Principal Software Engineer (Machine Learning)

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

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Software engineer with a good understanding of machine learning principles and algorithms to join our team and drive the development of our User and Entity Behavior Analysis with AI. In this role, you will combine robust backend engineering expertise with machine learning expertise to build, deploy, and maintain a cutting-edge Behavior Analytics system that enhances user experiences and operational efficiency.

• Architect and implement new ML models and pipeline to support efficient model training, validation, and real-time inference.
• Optimize the existing ML models and pipeline
• Ensure smooth integration of ML solutions into production systems, focusing on performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Build automation tools for continuous integration, delivery, and deployment of backend and ML components.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (product, QA, DevOps, and customer support) to align development efforts with business needs.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues that arise within both the backend infrastructure and ML models.
• Ensure code quality, security, and data privacy by following industry best practices.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation for system architecture, API endpoints, and ML model integration processes.

• 4+ years of experience using Python to build complex backend systems, ML experience is preferred. 10+ years of experience in software development
• Strong background on machine learning and ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch)
• Experience with cloud-native service development stack on GCP is a plus
• Solid grasp of RESTful API design and micro services architecture.
• Skilled in diagnosing and solving complex problems while providing detailed technical analysis
• Attention to details and high behavioral standards
• Team player with can-do attitude to tackle difficult problems and you inspire your team to do the same
• High energy and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent collaboration and communication with multiple teams
• Fast learner and eager to absorb new emerging technologies
• M.S./B.S. degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience