Principal Site Reliability Engineer
Zscaler · San Jose, CA
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $275,000 / year
- San Jose, CA
Email the hiring manager to get a response.
Get their verified email + an intro that's ready to send.
Subject: Interested in the Principal Site Reliability Engineer role at Zscaler
Hi Jordan — I came across the Principal Site Reliability Engineer opening and wanted to reach out directly. I've spent the last few years doing exactly this kind of work, and Zscaler stood out because…
✎ Personalized to your résumé after sign-up.
- ✓ Verified email of the hiring manager
- ✓ Intro email personalized to your résumé
- ✓ $9/mo = unlimited — any job link
Secure checkout · cancel anytime
Job highlights
- Lead infrastructure projects and mentor engineers.
- Ensure system reliability and performance.
- Build scalable, resilient, high-performing systems.
- Expertise in Kubernetes, IaC, and CI/CD.
- Hybrid or remote role with competitive salary.
About the role
About Zscaler
Zscaler accelerates digital transformation to ensure our customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. As an AI-forward enterprise, we are constantly pushing the envelope, leveraging the world’s largest security data lake to power our cloud-native Zero Trust Exchange platform. This innovation protects our customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location.
Here, impact in your role matters more than title and trust is built on results. We say, impact over activity. We seek innovators who actively use AI to amplify their impact and who thrive in an environment where we leverage intelligent systems to stay ahead of evolving threats. We believe in transparency and value constructive, honest debate—we’re focused on getting to the best ideas, faster. We build high-performing teams that can make an impact quickly and with high quality. To do this, we are building a culture of execution centered on customer obsession, collaboration, ownership, and accountability.
We value high-impact, high-accountability with a sense of urgency where you’re enabled to do your best work and embrace your potential. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges, and want to be part of the team that’s helping to secure the AI age, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity.
Role
We are looking for a Principal Site Reliability Engineer to join our Infrastructure services and architecture team. This role is hybrid 3 days a week onsite in San Jose, CA, or can be remote reporting to the Senior Manager, Cloud Operations. As a lead engineer, you will leverage deep expertise in IaC/CaC, Linux virtualization, and physical hardware management to drive our infrastructure forward. You will oversee networking services and general software engineering to ensure our systems remain scalable, resilient, and high-performing.
What You’ll Do (Role Expectations)
- Mentor junior engineers and lead high-impact infrastructure projects
- Support business operations by responding to alerts and triaging systems to restore mission-critical capabilities
- Ensure the reliability and performance of all customer-facing services
- Design, document, and build technical solutions that align with evolving organizational needs
- Support Agile processes to maintain high velocity and a collaborative environment
Who You Are (Success Profile)
- You possess deep expertise in Kubernetes management and deployment, ensuring containerized environments are optimized and secure.
- You are a champion for Infrastructure/Configuration as Code, maintaining a strict IaC/CaC mindset in every solution you build.
- You operate with a security-first focus, embedding protection and compliance into the foundation of the infrastructure.
- You bring a "go-getter" attitude, proactively identifying problem areas and proposing innovative solutions.
- You are highly proficient in CI/CD pipelines and believe that automated testing is non-negotiable for stable releases.
What We’re Looking For (Minimum Qualifications)
- Expert-level proficiency with Kubernetes
- Deep professional experience with Terraform and Ansible
- Expert-level programming skills in Python or Go
- Hands-on experience with Enterprise Linux distributions such as Rocky, Red Hat, or Alma
- Proven experience using Git within a structured SDLC
- U.S. citizenship due to the nature of the customers assigned to this role
What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)
- Deep knowledge of Linux Hypervisors, including OpenStack, Proxmox, libvirt, or QEMU
- Technical experience working with FreeBSD
- Familiarity with Identity Access Management tools like HashiCorp Vault, LDAP, or OIDC
Salary and Benefits
Zscaler’s salary ranges are benchmarked and are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations and could be higher or lower based on a multitude of factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
The base salary range listed for this full-time position excludes commission/ bonus/ equity (if applicable) + benefits.
Base Pay Range: $192,500—$275,000 USD
At Zscaler, we are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and the customers we work with. We foster an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, emphasizing collaboration and belonging. Join us in our mission to make doing business seamless and secure.
Benefits
- Various health plans
- Time off plans for vacation and sick time
- Parental leave options
- Retirement options
- Education reimbursement
- In-office perks, and more!
Learn more about Zscaler's hybrid working model and benefits here.
By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.
Zscaler is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the chance to succeed. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. See more information by clicking on the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal link.
Pay Transparency
Zscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules.
Zscaler is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations or adjustments) in our recruiting processes for candidates who are differently abled, have long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support.
Key skills/competency
- Principal Site Reliability Engineer
- Kubernetes Management
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
- Configuration as Code (CaC)
- Terraform
- Ansible
- Python
- Go
- Enterprise Linux
- CI/CD Pipelines
Skills & topics
- Principal Site Reliability Engineer
- Kubernetes
- Terraform
- Ansible
- Python
- Go
- Linux
- CI/CD
- IaC
- Site Reliability Engineering
- DevOps
- Cloud Operations
- Infrastructure Engineering
- System Administration
- Cybersecurity
- Remote Work
- Hybrid Work
- San Jose
- California
- Zscaler
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your expertise in Kubernetes, Terraform, Ansible, Python/Go, and CI/CD. Emphasize IaC and security-first approaches.
- Craft a strong cover letter: Showcase your 'go-getter' attitude and proactive problem-solving skills. Mention your experience in mentoring and leading projects.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Be ready to discuss complex infrastructure challenges, Kubernetes deployments, and IaC implementation strategies. Practice coding in Python or Go.
- Understand Zscaler's culture: Research their AI-forward approach, customer obsession, and focus on impact. Align your answers with their values of collaboration, ownership, and accountability.
- Highlight U.S. Citizenship: Clearly state your U.S. citizenship as it's a requirement for this role.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the work arrangement for the Principal Site Reliability Engineer role at Zscaler?
- This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, requiring 3 days onsite in San Jose, CA, or can be fully remote. The specific arrangement will be discussed during the hiring process.
- What are the key technical skills required for the Principal Site Reliability Engineer position?
- The essential technical skills include expert-level proficiency in Kubernetes, deep experience with Terraform and Ansible, expert programming skills in Python or Go, hands-on experience with Enterprise Linux, and proven Git usage within an SDLC. A security-first mindset and proficiency in CI/CD pipelines are also critical.
- Is U.S. citizenship a mandatory requirement for this role?
- Yes, U.S. citizenship is a mandatory requirement for the Principal Site Reliability Engineer position due to the nature of the customers assigned to this role.
- What is the salary range for a Principal Site Reliability Engineer at Zscaler?
- The base pay range for this full-time position is $192,500 to $275,000 USD, excluding commission, bonus, or equity. Actual salaries are determined by role, level, and other factors.
- What opportunities are there for career growth as a Principal Site Reliability Engineer at Zscaler?
- As a Principal Site Reliability Engineer, you will have the opportunity to mentor junior engineers, lead high-impact projects, and drive infrastructure innovation. Zscaler fosters a culture of continuous learning and provides avenues for professional development.
- How does Zscaler approach AI in its operations, and how does it relate to this role?
- Zscaler is an AI-forward enterprise that leverages AI to enhance its security data lake and cloud-native platform. As a Principal Site Reliability Engineer, you'll be part of a team using intelligent systems to stay ahead of threats and amplify impact.
- What kind of benefits does Zscaler offer to its employees?
- Zscaler offers a comprehensive benefits program including various health plans, time off, parental leave, retirement options, education reimbursement, and in-office perks.
- What is Zscaler's stance on diversity and inclusion?
- Zscaler is committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities they serve, fostering an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, and emphasizing collaboration and belonging.
Similar roles
Open positions we recommend based on this role.