[Skip to main content](#main-content) [OpenNash Jobs](https://jobs.opennash.com/) [Hiring report](/reports/hiring/) · [All Palo Alto Networks jobs](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/palo-alto-networks/) · [Search jobs](/search/) Palo Alto Networks · Santa Clara, CA # Principal Engineer - Cortex Xpanse, Collections Santa Clara, CA Senior individual contributor $147,000.00 - $237,500.00 Operations Listed on Palo Alto Networks’s official careers site. Listed as of October 17, 2026. Check that it is still open and apply there. [Apply on Palo Alto Networks’s careers site →](https://jobs.paloaltonetworks.com/en/job/santa-clara/principal-engineer-cortex-xpanse-collections/47263/96174876432) [OpenNash Jobs](https://jobs.opennash.com/) / [Palo Alto Networks](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/palo-alto-networks/) / Principal Engineer - Cortex Xpanse, Collections ## Job description 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 Collections team is the foundational engine behind the Cortex Xpanse Attack Surface Management (ASM) platform. We architect, scale, and orchestrate global internet-scale discovery and scanning infrastructure. In this role, you will design distributed systems that continuously map the entire IPv4 and IPv6 internet, while building high-throughput data pipelines to create the foundation for Xpanse’s Attack Surface Management. As a Principal Software Engineer, you will drive the design of scalable services and collaborate with engineering peers, product managers, and leadership to execute end-to-end, mission-critical initiatives that directly impact our platform's success. ### Key Responsibilities Build, optimize, and scale distributed backend scanning systems in Go. Design and develop robust data collection pipelines using Apache Beam and Java multithreading frameworks. Investigate new data sources and perform data analysis to estimate customer impact. Take ownership of projects, drive them to completion, and support them in production. Partner with engineering peers and product managers to define product strategy and enable the creation of new customer-facing features. Mentor and grow engineers, setting a high bar for technical excellence, architecture design, and system reliability. ### Required Qualifications 8+ years of professional software engineering experience building backend systems. Proficiency in Java or Golang is preferred, though strong experience with other modern backend languages is welcome. Experience building data pipelines for real-time streaming or batch processing. Experience with distributed systems, API design, and decoupling complex data architectures. Experience with at least one major cloud platform (GCP, AWS, or Azure). ### Preferred Qualifications Have expertise with any of the following: GCP, Kubernetes, Terraform, BigQuery, PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigTable, Apache Beam. Familiarity with low-level Internet protocols and high-throughput network scanning. Experience with cybersecurity, attack surface management, or internet measurement domains. Compensation Disclosure The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/com-missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here. $147,000.00 - $237,500.00/yr 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?: Yes ## At a glance - Posted by the employer: Not stated - First seen by OpenNash: Oct 10, 2026 - Last checked: Oct 17, 2026 - Listed for: 7 days - Location: Santa Clara, CA - Pay: $147,000.00 - $237,500.00[Apply on Palo Alto Networks’s careers site →](https://jobs.paloaltonetworks.com/en/job/santa-clara/principal-engineer-cortex-xpanse-collections/47263/96174876432) ## More jobs at Palo Alto Networks ### [Distinguished Engineer - AI-First Transformation](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/palo-alto-networks/jobs/f00da02984e513874a09/) Santa Clara, CA ### [Distinguished Engineer - Endpoint Access Agents](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/palo-alto-networks/jobs/4cc417f315d654f495fb/) Santa Clara, CA ### [Lead, GTM Strategy and Transformation](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/palo-alto-networks/jobs/51e224697f2c280e26c7/) Santa Clara, CA ### [Lead, NetSec GTM Strategy & Ops](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/palo-alto-networks/jobs/b210708e60b76bce06c8/) Santa Clara, CA ### [Lead, NetSec Product Strategy](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/palo-alto-networks/jobs/339a79ae6dfa3026628d/) Santa Clara, CA ## Similar jobs at other companies ### [Principal Frontend AI Engineer - Cortex Code](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/snowflake/jobs/5c030e8c9cc8aadd4d3b/) Snowflake · Menlo Park, California, United States ### [Lead Cortex AI Engineer](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/tata-consultancy-services/jobs/05dc9499d2ab41a2c782/) Tata Consultancy Services · Owings Mills, MD ### [Principal Engineer](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/thrivent-financial/jobs/9f97aaf5043e817b8cfc/) Thrivent Financial · United States ### [Principal Validation Engineer](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/cardinal-health/jobs/f4255b000289c1f56c6e/) Cardinal Health · Indianapolis, IN OpenNash lists jobs from employers’ own careers sites and does not handle applications. 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