Netskope: Principal Engineer, Secure AI Gateway — Santa Clara, California, United States

About Netskope

Netskope develops security and networking technology for cloud, data and AI environments. Its employer introduction identifies the Netskope One platform, a zero-trust engine and the NewEdge network as parts of that offering. The business describes giving organisations visibility and control while maintaining the performance of access to applications and information. This connects cybersecurity with networking: the products address both how digital resources are reached and how their use is controlled and protected.

The position and its setting

Netskope lists Principal Engineer, Secure AI Gateway in Santa Clara, California, United States, under reference 8174989. The details below separate the work described by the employer from essential conditions, preferred experience and practical preparation advice.

• Department: Cloud Data Path
• Employer listing date: 3 September 2026

Responsibilities and work described

• Design, architect and develop high performance, scalable cloud-based security systems to detect and mitigate threats on LLM APIs and Generative AI applications
• Setting and driving the overall architectural design and strategic technical directions for the Cloud API Gateway platform
• Define and drive best practices around scalable microservices, distributed systems, APIs and secure data flows across multiple LLM providers (Layer 3 to Layer 7)
• Leadership: and inspire a engineering organization, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement
• Partner with product management to understand customer requirements, lead the team and collaborate with other engineering teams to design and implement high-quality solutions
• Building: scalable and performant services that route, transform and secure various API protocols (LLM APIs, REST, gRPC, etc.), using advanced data structures and algorithms in GoLang
• Execution: deep inspection of LLM API traffic in real-time to detect and mitigate attacks on AI services
• Design: and implement routing algorithms for multi-provider LLM orchestration, intelligent request transformation, load balancing, and failover logic
• Integration: with security features including DLP, Threat protection, and UEBA for LLM-specific attack pattern recognition, content inspection and policy application
• Implementation: sophisticated credential and token management algorithms for secure multi-provider orchestration
• Execution: architectural reviews, code reviews and mentor junior engineers
• Stay abreast of emerging GenAI and cybersecurity technologies, proactively propose innovative solutions

Essential requirements and candidate background

• 10 to 12+ years of experience in software engineering, with 5+ years in architectural or technical leadership role
• Deep expertise in backend engineering using Golang, or similar languages
• Review code in GoLang and similar languages, such as C and C++
• Experience designing large-scale, secure and cloud-native systems
• Expertise in building high throughput and low latency data systems, such as networking from Layer 3 to Layer 7, web proxy, load balancing, request routing, API gateways, security, monitoring and observability, distributed systems, data processing, etc
• Expertise in dealing with complex architectural problems across multiple products and at the same time handling design issues at module level
• Understanding: computer architecture – multi-threading, CPU scheduling, memory management with practical knowledge of Linux at system/kernel level
• Experience: Docker and Kubernetes, specifically debugging workloads, networking, and storage in on-prem or hybrid environments
• Hands-on experience handling complex and ambiguous customer issues
• Persistence in accomplishing objectives despite uncertain situations, obstacles, and setbacks
• Communication skills and the ability to position views and arguments appropriately to win support
• The ability to negotiate skillfully in tough situations to win concessions without damaging relationships
• Confidence under pressure, a mature EQ, and the ability to show a high degree of self control while maintaining a positive attitude despite adversity
• Willingness to work with a globally distributed team in different time zones, including US, Taiwan and India
• The ability to represent the company in appropriate external forums and industry events promoting technical thought leadership

Preferred experience and additional strengths

• Startup experience in a fast-paced environment is a plus
• Analytical and troubleshooting skills using debuggers like gdb and tools like Valgrind
• Proponent of TDD, knowledge of various unit testing frameworks
• Experience: LLM APIs, Generative AI platforms, and multi-provider orchestration
• Deep packet inspection and real-time content analysis at line rate
• Experience: threat detection, DLP, and security policy enforcement
• Deep knowledge of GenAI and cybersecurity convergence: prompt injection, jailbreak mitigation, LLM-specific threat patterns
• Experience implementing key management and credential handling algorithms
• Integration with security features such as DLP, Threat protection, and UEBA
• Knowledge: emerging GenAI and cloud service security challenges and best practices

Location, schedule and contract conditions

For this overseas or regional listing, confirm work authorisation and any location restrictions with the employer. The location does not establish visa sponsorship or permission to work remotely from India.

• At Netskope, salary is one component of our competitive total rewards package
• The salary range for this position is as listed below
• This is a national range
• For purposes of complying with applicable laws, the range applies to candidates in California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Washington, and other states
• The successful candidate’s starting pay will also be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, location, and market conditions
• For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the On Target Earnings (OTE) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target commission amount at 100% goal achievement
• In addition to salary, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus plan (for non-sales roles) and a stock award program
• Candidates may also be eligible for a comprehensive health plan and other benefits that can be reviewed at Netskope Benefits site
• Salary Range
• Compensation:: $133,500 — $272,000 USD
• Netskope is committed to implementing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment
• Netskope respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us, please refer to Netskope's Privacy Policy for more details
• The application window for this position is expected to close within 50 days
• You may apply by filling out the below information, or visiting our Netskope Careers site

Benefits mentioned by the employer

• In this role you will help lead the Netskope AI Security Gateway - a platform that empowers enterprises to securely unlock the transformative power of Generative AI and LLMs at scale
• Conduct technical research, collaborate with internal engineering and product management teams, collaborate with engineers in US, Taiwan and India to design, develop and integrate innovative security capabilities into our platform
• You'll own architectural decisions that affect how the platform routes, transforms, secures and inspects API traffic across LLM providers, AI services and cloud platforms

Conditions requiring the complete notice

Some passages contain complex or combined conditions that have not been reduced to short eligibility statements here. Read the complete linked notice for those passages, including any alternatives, exceptions or restrictions. The concise facts above should not be treated as the full wording of every condition.

Pay and application dates

A verified salary figure is not established in this article. An online estimate for another Principal Engineer, Secure AI Gateway vacancy is not an offer for reference 8174989; use the employer’s own pay disclosure and recruitment communication.

A closing date is not confirmed in this article. Check the current employer page before submitting: an undated posting can change or be withdrawn.

How to apply to Netskope

Applications follow the official employer page linked below.

Open the official Netskope posting below and match the title and reference 8174989.

Compare your qualifications and experience with the essential conditions for the Santa Clara, California, United States position, then read the preferred criteria separately.

Prepare an accurate CV and the supporting items requested in that employer’s application. Provide only information and documents you are authorised to share.

Use the employer’s application option, complete the required fields and review the submission. Retain the acknowledgement when one is provided. Job Alerts World does not receive the application.

Practical preparation: C++

C++ experience should identify the system and the constraints you worked within. Memory use, timing, interfaces, debugging or portability may be useful discussion points when they actually formed part of your work.

Relevant skills

• C++
• Kubernetes
• Docker
• REST APIs
• APIs
• AI/ML
• LLMs
• Linux
• AI
• cybersecurity
• sales
• communication