Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Palo Alto Networks is dedicated to protecting the digital way of life through innovation and impact. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer focused on backend development, you will lead the architecture and modernization of backend infrastructure for Unit 42’s intelligence platforms, while mentoring junior engineers and leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity.

Responsibilities

• Champion the use of AI tools (Cursor/Claude) throughout the development lifecycle to enforce coding standards, automate boilerplate, and accelerate technical debt resolution
• Lead the design and implementation of highly resilient, distributed backend services (Go, Python, C++), prioritizing deep backend architectural health while maintaining sufficient frontend literacy to guide full-stack product outcomes
• Act as an Individual Contributor for complex, greenfield backend projects, establishing the technical roadmap and mentorship framework to guide and grow junior backend engineers as the team scales
• Bridge the gap between threat research data and scalable service architecture, ensuring that our backend systems are built for long-term maintainability and high-throughput data processing

Skills

• 10+ years of backend-heavy experience with proven success in distributed systems (Go/Python/Java)
• Expert-level proficiency in AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude); you optimize your workflow and the team's workflow around them
• Strong desire to mentor and develop junior engineering talent, with a demonstrated ability to transition from a high-impact individual contributor to a technical leader
• Comfortable reading, debugging, and architecting data flow with frontend teams (React/TypeScript) to ensure seamless API and state integration

Benefits

• The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus.
• A description of our employee benefits may be found https://benefits.paloaltonetworks.com/

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