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# Senior Principal Software Engineer (Cortex Platform)

- **Company:** Palo Alto Networks
- **Location:** Santa Clara, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), Adaptable Database Systems, Business Logic, ARM Architecture, BigQuery, Cloud Computing, Cloud Engineering, Databases, Computer Engineering, Distributed Systems, Elasticsearch, Human-Computer Interaction, Python (Programming Language), MySQL, Network Architecture, Software Engineering, Load Balancing, Flask (Web Framework), Backend, Information Technology, Data Analytics, Cortex XSOAR Platform, Restful APIs, Data Pipelines, Serverless Computing, Web Api, Microservices
- **Published:** October 20, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.juju.com/job/23_6A647D36E65126BE94740AF85D2EE90C

## About the Role

Qualifications Required Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
14+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a focus on distributed, cloud-native application development.
10+ years of software engineering experience, featuring deep expertise in Python, Go, or Java and a proven track record of architecting large-scale distributed systems.
Extensive experience with cloud development, including REST APIs, databases, serverless computing, and microservices architectures.
Demonstrated experience as a hands-on technical lead or architect on complex software projects.
Preferred Qualifications 8+ years of hands-on experience with specific cloud technologies such as ElasticSearch, Google Pub/Sub, or similar.
Deep understanding of public cloud design considerations, including security, global network infrastructure, and load balancing.
Proven ability to make data-driven trade-off judgments and excellent troubleshooting skills to isolate and resolve complex issues.
Experience working in an agile environment with cross-functional teams to deliver full-stack products at scale.
Compensation Disclosure The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location.

## Description

Job Summary As a Senior Principal Backend Engineer in our Cortex group, you will be a key technical leader responsible for developing, innovating, and scaling the backend of our industry-leading products, including Cortex XSOAR, XDR, and XSIAM. You will focus on the Cortex Platform and contribute to shared infrastructures, tackling complex problems to deliver significant value to thousands of customers.
This role requires a can-do attitude and a passion for solving the most challenging cybersecurity threats.
The Team Cortex - Cortex is a world-leading cybersecurity platform that provides comprehensive security solutions to protect organizations from advanced threats.
Our team is responsible for developing and maintaining the core components of the Cortex platform, including the data pipeline, analytics engine, and user interface.
We are a fast-paced and innovative team that is passionate about building the best security products in the world.
Key Responsibilities Serve as an acknowledged technical leader, providing consultation and proactively collaborating across engineering teams to ensure alignment.
Drive the full lifecycle of projects from requirements gathering to final design and implementation, acting as a project lead or mentor.
Lead the alignment of planned work across the product by partnering with product management, UX design, and engineering stakeholders.
Utilize a big-picture perspective to identify, analyze, and provide practical solutions for complex existing and impending technical problems.
Design, build, and optimize highly scalable data models and queries using technologies such as MySQL and BigQuery, focusing on the details to ensure performance.
Develop robust business logic and API endpoints using Python and Flask, and build high-performance backend services using Go.
Proactively identify, articulate, and mitigate risks in projects to ensure smooth execution and high-quality output.
Mentor and empower other engineers across the department, fostering a culture of technical excellence and applied learning.