Distinguished Software Engineer (DLP Platform Architecture, Scale, and Advanced DLP Detection)

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

The Team

Job Summary
We’re seeking a Distinguished Engineer to lead the architecture, scalability, reliability, and advanced detection algorithms of Palo Alto Networks’ Data Loss Prevention (DLP) platform. This role drives the technical vision for low-latency, multi-tenant, and cost-efficient systems that power data protection across all product lines. You’ll connect strategy across orgs, guide design and implementation standards, and mentor senior engineers to deliver world-class platform outcomes.

Key Responsibilities
​​Architecture & Strategic Vision
You will define the long-term direction for the DLP platform architecture.

• Define Platform Foundation: Define and drive the DLP platform’s "north star," including the scalable control/data planes, APIs, and data pipelines.
• System Design: Design and evolve distributed systems specifically optimized for high throughput, low latency, and fault tolerance.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Lead cross-org architectural alignment across product, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), privacy, and Machine Learning (ML) teams.
• Detection Algorithm Enablement: Architect the core data structures and serving layers that enable high-performance DLP classification, like Regex, Exact Data Matching (EDM), Document Fingerprinting, and advanced ML/AI classifiers.

High-Scale Platform Engineering & Performance

Ensure the platform meets the highest standards of performance and reliability through technical execution and optimization.

• Distributed Systems Mastery: Guide the design and implementation of highly resilient systems leveraging expertise in microservices and streaming systems (Kafka/Pulsar/Kinesis).
• Stateful Architecture Implementation: Ensure the platform utilizes stateful architectures necessary for high-performance DLP components, leveraging technologies like RocksDB, Redis, and Cassandra.
• Performance Optimization: Demonstrate proven experience with high-performance, multi-tenant systems and end-to-end performance optimization. Success is measured by achieving step-function improvements in latency, throughput, and reliability.
• Cloud Infrastructure: Ensure a strong grasp of cloud infrastructure (GCP/AWS/Azure), Kubernetes, observability, and SLO management is applied across the platform.

Mentorship & Operational Excellence
The role requires leadership in engineering standards and organizational consistency.

• Technical Mentorship: Mentor Staff and Principal engineers to influence technical direction and standards company-wide.
• Reusable Frameworks: Build paved roads and reusable frameworks for platform consistency and operational excellence.
• Platform Leverage: Ensure platform capabilities are reused across multiple products.
• Efficiency Gains: Elevate developer productivity and operational efficiency through standardized frameworks.

Pioneering Success

• Step-function improvements in latency, throughput, reliability, and detection.
• Platform capabilities reused across multiple products.
• Elevated developer productivity & operational efficiency through standardized frameworks.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience building large-scale distributed systems or SaaS platforms with a minimum of 3+ years operating as a Distinguished or Principal-level Engineer/Architect.
• Deep expertise in microservices, streaming systems (Kafka/Pulsar/Kinesis), and stateful architectures (RocksDB, Redis, Cassandra).
• Strong grasp of cloud infrastructure (GCP/AWS/Azure), Kubernetes, observability, and SLO management.
• Proven experience with high-performance, multi-tenant systems and end-to-end performance optimization.
• Background in data privacy, policy engines, or content inspection/DLP systems preferred.
• Excellent communicator able to influence across teams and align engineering strategy with business goals.
• BS/MS degree in Computer Science or equivalent or equivalent military experience required

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/com-missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

$230,000.00 - $315,000.00/yr

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at  accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com.

Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?: Yes