Sr Principal Engineer Software (NGFW) - NetSec - Bangalore

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

Engineering - Our engineering team is at the core of our products – connected directly to the mission of preventing cyberattacks. We are constantly innovating – challenging the way we, and the industry, think about cybersecurity. Our engineers don’t shy away from building products to solve problems no one has pursued before. We define the industry, instead of waiting for directions. We need individuals who feel comfortable in ambiguity, excited by the prospect of a challenge, and empowered by the unknown risks facing our everyday lives that are only enabled by a secure digital environment.

Job Summary

Join Palo Alto Networks' NGFW group to build enterprise-managed devices and the next-generation platform powering our security stack. As a Sr. Principal Software Engineer, you will serve as the primary technical interface between PANW and hardware teams to build platform firmware, cloud management agents, and drive board bring-up for new hardware generations. This pivotal role sits at the intersection of embedded Linux, cloud-connected agent software, and platform hardware, requiring you to integrate advanced security stacks on pre-commercial chipsets. You will define and build cutting-edge features across network and security layers, directly shaping the future of our device firmware platform.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the device firmware platform, including kernel configuration, package management, and image build pipelines using partner SDKs.
• Maintain and extend the cloud device agent, managing WebSocket connections, ZTP onboarding, and telemetry reporting.
• Integrate the PANW SCM cloud agent into the firmware for device registration, configuration sync, and telemetry export.
• Drive board bring-up for new device hardware generations, including bootloader, device tree, and driver integration.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison to hardware teams, triaging issues, reviewing firmware, and negotiating BOM changes.
• Manage firmware signing and secure boot processes, validating attestation flows from SCM.
• Maintain the device configuration schema and site template repository, syncing with the controller API contract.
• Build and deploy advanced networking and security capabilities on the platform.

Qualifications

• BS or MS degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in network driver or firmware development.
• Deep expertise in Linux kernel networking driver frameworks and vendor SDK integration.
• Hands-on experience with embedded networking SoCs and vendor SDK or driver stacks.
• Strong proficiency in C programming, with experience in kernel and driver debugging under hardware constraints.
• Strong experience in packet processing, parsing, and networking (L2-L4) protocols and architecture.
• Experience in data plane forwarding and network processor programming.
• Proficiency in shell scripting and Python for build automation.
• Strong understanding of next-generation networking standards at the frame and protocol level.

Preferred Qualifications

• Open-source Linux kernel driver experience.
• Familiarity with netfilter, iptables, or eBPF for data path integration.
• Working knowledge of secure boot chains, firmware signing, and TPM integration.
• Experience in DPDK packet processing and performance tuning.

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? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.