Senior Manager, Software Development Engineering
Zscaler
Santa Clara, CA · $212k–$265k a year · Posted October 21, 2026
Just laid off? Start here: a plan for the first weeks
See every open role at Zscaler
More in California job market · Technology & Software · Engineering jobs
More roles at Zscaler
- Staff Software Development Engineer · San Jose, CA
- Staff Site Reliability Engineer (Production Engineer)- Federal · Santa Clara, CA
- Sr. Staff Applied AI Engineer, GTM · Santa Clara, CA
- Sr. Staff Site Reliability Engineer-Federal, Security Clearance · Crystal City, VA
- Sr People Business Partner — AI-Powered People Strategy, Global BP Team & Corporate Functions · Santa Clara, CA
- Sr. Site Reliability Engineer- Federal · Santa Clara, CA
Similar jobs
- Head of IT · Elroy Air · Byron, CA
- Head of Technical Support · Resolve AI · San Francisco, CA
- Senior Manager, Software Engineering · Walmart · Sunnyvale, CA
- Senior Project Manager-Architecture · Dewberry · Sacramento, CA
- Director of Applications, Building Technology, Security & Enterprise Badge Service · Sutter Health · Sacramento, CA
- Manager, Data Engineering · Insulet · San Diego, CA
Where Santa Clara, CA ranks
Where Santa Clara, CA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #1Best cities for sales pay after cost of living$175k · of 45
- #1Best cities for product pay after cost of living$224k · of 14
- #2Best cities for operations pay after cost of living$173k · of 41
- #2Best cities for marketing pay after cost of living$192k · of 16
- #2Best all-round cities for remote workers in the West Coast85 / 100 · of 39
- #3Best cities for finance pay after cost of living$156k · of 35
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
Among computer and information systems managers, AI is already used for some of the tasks. Measured exposure for computer and information systems managers: 16% (some).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.
About the job
Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across 200+ public data centers globally and thousands of private sites at the edge, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.
We believe the future of work is Human + AI and are building an AI-native enterprise where human potential is amplified by machine intelligence to solve the world’s hardest security challenges. Driven by deep customer obsession, we are committed to the mission, outcome, and to each other. We bring these commitments to life through three core behaviors: ownership and collaboration, trust through outcomes and impact, and a challenge culture with ongoing feedback. Ready to make an impact at the company pioneering security transformation in the AI era? Join us at Zscaler.
Role
We are looking for a Senior Manager, Software Development Engineering to join our team. This is a Santa Clara, CA role, reporting to the Sr. Director, Software Engineering in the Zero Trust Exchange department. We are looking for a dynamic and inspired leader to support and drive the visionary innovation of Zscaler over the next decade. In this role, you will have the opportunity to rapidly scale the Zscaler Client Connector Portal service, working closely with our executive team and leading a high-performing engineering team to deliver cutting-edge services to the industry.
What you’ll do (Role Expectations)
Lead the software development team embracing the AI Development Lifecycle while working closely with peer product and operations teams
Be a Thought Leader and deeply-involved in the Architecture and Design aspects of the product
Oversee cloud operations, including upgrades, scalability improvements, and troubleshooting
Transition the team to a full service ownership model
Partner with product management to define and execute the product roadmap
Who You Are (Success Profile)
You act like an owner, bringing a deep passion for the mission, a strong bias for action, and the ability to navigate seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.
You are a high-trust collaborator who is ambitious for the team, embracing ongoing feedback, candor, and respect to build strong partnerships.
You are customer-obsessed, demonstrating deep empathy for both internal and external users while anchoring all engineering decisions in solving real-world customer problems.
You are a positive force who approaches complex technical challenges with contagious constructive energy and a collaborative, solution-oriented spirit.
You operate with urgency, maintaining a relentless focus on execution to deliver high-quality, high-impact results rapidly in a fast-paced environment.
What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)
Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain
7+ years of experience building and leading software development teams developing Enterprise applications with the Java stack
5+ years of experience with cloud-based deployment and cloud operations
3+ years of experience working with hyperscalers such as AWS
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field, with strong knowledge of the Java stack, SSL, and MySQL
Hands-on proficiency with Java, Python and shell scripting
What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)
Proven ability to leverage AI technologies and workflows to drive measurable operational efficiency
Current experience utilizing the AI Development Lifecycle (AIDLC) in software delivery
In-depth knowledge of Kubernetes and microservices architectures
US Citizenship is a plus
#LI-DY1 #LI-SantaClara
Zscaler’s salary ranges are benchmarked and are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations and could be higher or lower based on a multitude of factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
The base salary range listed for this full-time position excludes commission/ bonus/ equity (if applicable) + benefits.
Base Pay Range $212,000 — $265,000 USD
At Zscaler, we are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and the customers we work with. We foster an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, emphasizing collaboration and belonging. Join us in our mission to make doing business seamless and secure.
Our Benefits program is one of the most important ways we support our employees. Zscaler proudly offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families throughout their life stages, including:
Various health plans
Time off plans for vacation and sick time
Parental leave options
Retirement options
Education reimbursement
In-office perks, and more!
Learn more about Zscaler's hybrid working model and benefits here .
By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.
Zscaler is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the chance to succeed. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. See more information by clicking on the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal link.
Pay Transparency
Zscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules.
Zscaler is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations or adjustments) in our recruiting processes for candidates who are differently abled, have long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support.