📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Software Test Engineer (Strata Cloud Manager)
Company: Palo Alto Networks
Location: Santa Clara, California, United States
Job Type: Full-time
Category: DevOps Engineer, Software Test Engineer
Date Posted: 2025-06-11
Experience Level: 10+ years
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

Lead the quality and reliability of Palo Alto Networks' Cloud Management Platform through test automation and engineering.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure software features meet customer use cases and security standards.
Design, develop, and execute test automation for the next-generation security platform.
Work with various public cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) to automate cloud management platform testing.
Configure, build, and expand testbeds for functional and system testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in software development, testing, and cloud technologies, with a focus on network security. The ideal candidate will have experience in testing network security products and a deep understanding of networking concepts.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Test Automation & Framework Development: Design, develop, and maintain test automation and framework to test software features on the Cloud Management Platform.
Test Planning & Execution: Create detailed, comprehensive, and well-structured test plans that cover all possible test cases to verify feature functionality for customer use cases.
Collaboration & Communication: Work closely with software engineering and product management teams during product development from design to release. Excellent communication and collaborative skills are essential.
Issue Resolution & Verification: Understand customer configurations, debug, reproduce, verify fixes, and add new test cases for issues uncovered in customer deployments.
Endurance & Scale Testing: Verify endurance and scale testing to validate robust feature functionality under stress.
Troubleshooting & Debugging: Excellent troubleshooting abilities to debug issues found during testing and verify bug fixes once they are resolved.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering or a related technical field.

Experience: Minimum of 10 years' experience as a Software Developer/SDET/Software Test Engineer.

Required Skills:

Proven experience in writing test plans and test cases with a strong understanding of SDET methodologies, tools, and procedures.
Strong knowledge of test automation methodologies, tools, and frameworks.
Experience developing test automation for REST APIs using Python/Pytest.
UI automation/testing experience using Selenium/JavaScript/Playwright.
Proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, Java, JavaScript).
Experience in building and maintaining GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
Experience with TCP/IP Networking and Network/Cloud Security required.
Good understanding of networking concepts, L2-L7 protocols.
Experience with Cloud Technologies such as AWS/Azure/GCP.
Experience with Linux or Esxi Virtualization or Docker/Kubernetes is a plus.

Preferred Skills:

Experience testing network security products, preferably with firewalls.
Excellent communication and collaborative skills.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

A portfolio showcasing your experience in software development, testing, and cloud technologies.
Examples of test automation frameworks and tools you've developed or maintained.
Case studies demonstrating your ability to test complex software features and ensure quality.
Documentation of your troubleshooting and issue resolution processes.

Technical Documentation:

Detailed test plans and cases demonstrating your understanding of SDET methodologies and procedures.
Documentation of your experience with cloud technologies and network security.
Examples of your collaboration and communication skills, such as team projects or presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a portfolio is not explicitly required for this role, providing examples of your work in software development, testing, and cloud technologies can help demonstrate your qualifications and commitment to the position.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $147,000 - $225,500 YEAR

Benefits:

FLEXBenefits Wellbeing Spending Account
Mental Health Resources
Financial Health Resources
Personalized Learning Opportunities
Restricted Stock Units
Bonus

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible scheduling for hybrid work arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Industry: Cybersecurity

Company Size: Large (over 10,000 employees)

Founded: 2005

Team Structure:

The Cloud Management Platform team is responsible for developing and maintaining the public cloud delivered management platform to manage all Palo Alto Networks Next-generation network security solutions.
The team consists of highly motivated engineers working together to build a highly scalable and secure multi-tenant public cloud solution.
Collaboration and teamwork are at the foundation of the team culture, with a focus on communication and achieving common goals.

Development Methodology:

Agile/Scrum methodologies and sprint planning for web projects.
Code review, testing, and quality assurance practices.
Deployment strategies, CI/CD pipelines, and server management.

Company Website: Palo Alto Networks

📝 Enhancement Note: Palo Alto Networks is a leading cybersecurity company with a strong focus on innovation and collaboration. The company values diversity and inclusion, with a mission to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting the digital way of life.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Principal Software Test Engineer (Strata Cloud Manager) is a senior-level role responsible for leading the quality and reliability of the Cloud Management Platform through test automation and engineering.

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Engineering Manager of the Cloud Management Platform team.

Technical Impact: The Principal Software Test Engineer (Strata Cloud Manager) has a significant impact on the quality and reliability of the Cloud Management Platform, ensuring that software features meet customer use cases and security standards.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: As a senior-level role, there is potential for growth into a technical leadership position, such as a Senior Principal Engineer or a Technical Manager.
Architecture & Design: With experience, there may be opportunities to move into architecture and design roles, focusing on the overall system design and security of the Cloud Management Platform.
Mentoring & Knowledge Sharing: As an experienced engineer, there are opportunities to mentor junior team members and share knowledge to help them grow in their careers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Palo Alto Networks offers a range of growth opportunities for experienced engineers looking to advance their careers in cybersecurity. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, the company provides a dynamic environment for professionals to learn, grow, and make a significant impact on the industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid (3 days in office)

Office Location(s): Santa Clara, California, United States

Workspace Context:

The Palo Alto Networks office provides a collaborative workspace with casual conversations, problem-solving, and trusted relationships.
The team uses modern development tools, multiple monitors, and testing devices to ensure high-quality software products.
The office fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, with a focus on precision and winning together.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is flexible, with a focus on achieving results and meeting project deadlines. The team works together to ensure that maintenance windows and deployment windows are coordinated and communicated effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: Palo Alto Networks' hybrid work arrangement allows for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work, providing flexibility for employees to manage their work-life balance while still maintaining a strong connection to the team and company culture.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss your experience and qualifications for the role.
Technical Assessment: A hands-on assessment to evaluate your test automation and cloud technologies skills.
On-site Interview: A full-day on-site interview, including technical deep dives, system design discussions, and cultural fit assessments.
Final Evaluation: A final evaluation of your technical skills, cultural fit, and potential impact on the team and company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience in software development, testing, and cloud technologies.
Showcase your test automation frameworks and tools, demonstrating your ability to test complex software features and ensure quality.
Provide case studies demonstrating your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
Be prepared to discuss your troubleshooting and issue resolution processes, demonstrating your ability to debug and verify bug fixes.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your test automation and cloud technologies skills, with a focus on Python, Pytest, Selenium, and JavaScript.
Familiarize yourself with the Palo Alto Networks Cloud Management Platform and its features.
Prepare for system design discussions and architecture decision-making processes.

ATS Keywords: Test Automation, Software Testing, Cloud Technologies, Network Security, REST APIs, Python, Pytest, Selenium, JavaScript, GitLab CI/CD, TCP/IP Networking, L2-L7 Protocols, Agile/Scrum Methodologies, Collaboration, Troubleshooting, Debugging, Quality Assurance, Software Development, Cybersecurity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Palo Alto Networks uses a comprehensive interview process to evaluate candidates' technical skills, cultural fit, and potential impact on the team and company. By preparing thoroughly and showcasing your experience and qualifications, you can increase your chances of success in the interview process.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Test Automation & Framework Tools:

Python/Pytest for REST API testing
Selenium/JavaScript/Playwright for UI automation/testing
GitLab CI/CD pipelines for continuous integration and deployment
JIRA/SVN/Git for project management and version control

Cloud Technologies:

AWS/Azure/GCP for public cloud platforms
Docker/Kubernetes for containerization and orchestration
Terraform for infrastructure as code (IaC)

Networking & Security:

TCP/IP Networking for network protocols and communication
Network/Cloud Security for secure network management and deployment
Firewalls for network security and access control

📝 Enhancement Note: Palo Alto Networks uses a wide range of test automation and framework tools, cloud technologies, and networking and security technologies to ensure the quality and reliability of its software products. Familiarity with these technologies is essential for success in the Principal Software Test Engineer (Strata Cloud Manager) role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Cloud Management Platform Team Values:

Innovation: Embrace a culture of continuous learning and improvement, driving innovation in cloud management platform testing.
Collaboration: Work together to achieve common goals, fostering a culture of trust and open communication.
Quality: Focus on quality and reliability, ensuring that software features meet customer use cases and security standards.
Customer Focus: Understand customer configurations and deployments, ensuring that the cloud management platform meets their needs and expectations.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: Work closely with software engineering, product management, and other teams to ensure that software features meet customer use cases and security standards.
Code Review Culture: Participate in code reviews to ensure that software features meet quality and reliability standards.
Knowledge Sharing: Share your knowledge and expertise with junior team members, fostering a culture of learning and growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: Palo Alto Networks fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and quality, with a focus on driving continuous learning and improvement in cloud management platform testing. By embracing these values and working collaboratively with cross-functional teams, you can make a significant impact on the company's success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Scalability: Ensure that the cloud management platform can scale to meet the demands of a growing customer base.
Security: Ensure that the cloud management platform is secure and compliant with industry standards and regulations.
Customer Configurations: Understand and test a wide range of customer configurations and deployments, ensuring that the cloud management platform meets their needs and expectations.
Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with emerging cloud technologies and trends, integrating them into the cloud management platform as needed.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Expand your technical skills in cloud technologies, networking, and security through training, workshops, and online resources.
Leadership Development: Develop your leadership skills through mentoring, coaching, and participation in company leadership programs.
Architecture & Design: Gain experience in architecture and design, contributing to the overall system design and security of the cloud management platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: Palo Alto Networks offers a range of technical and leadership development opportunities for experienced engineers looking to advance their careers in cloud management platform testing. By embracing these challenges and opportunities, you can grow both personally and professionally in a dynamic and innovative environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Test Automation & Framework Tools: Prepare for questions about your experience with test automation and framework tools, such as Python/Pytest, Selenium, and GitLab CI/CD.
Cloud Technologies: Brush up on your knowledge of public cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP), containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and infrastructure as code (Terraform).
Networking & Security: Review your understanding of TCP/IP Networking, L2-L7 protocols, and network security, with a focus on firewalls and access control.
System Design & Architecture: Prepare for system design discussions and architecture decision-making processes, demonstrating your ability to think critically and creatively about the cloud management platform.

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Mission & Values: Research Palo Alto Networks' mission and values, demonstrating your alignment with the company's goals and culture.
Team Dynamics: Prepare for questions about your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of trust and open communication.
Customer Focus: Demonstrate your understanding of customer configurations and deployments, and your commitment to ensuring that the cloud management platform meets their needs and expectations.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Live Demonstration: Prepare a live demonstration of your test automation and framework tools, showcasing your ability to test complex software features and ensure quality.
Case Studies: Develop case studies demonstrating your experience in software development, testing, and cloud technologies, with a focus on customer configurations and deployments.
Technical Deep Dive: Prepare for a technical deep dive into your portfolio, demonstrating your ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues and challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Palo Alto Networks uses a comprehensive interview process to evaluate candidates' technical skills, cultural fit, and potential impact on the team and company. By preparing thoroughly and showcasing your experience and qualifications, you can increase your chances of success in the interview process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for the Principal Software Test Engineer (Strata Cloud Manager) position at Palo Alto Networks:

Submit Your Application: Click the "Apply Now" button on the job listing to submit your resume and cover letter.
Prepare Your Portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to showcase your experience in software development, testing, and cloud technologies, with a focus on test automation and framework tools.
Brush Up on Technical Skills: Review your knowledge of Python, Pytest, Selenium, JavaScript, GitLab CI/CD, TCP/IP Networking, L2-L7 protocols, and cloud technologies (AWS/Azure/GCP, Docker/Kubernetes, Terraform).
Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with Palo Alto Networks' mission, values, and culture, demonstrating your alignment with the company's goals and objectives.
Prepare for the Interview: Practice your technical skills and prepare for a range of interview questions, from test automation and framework tools to system design and architecture.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Principal Software Test Engineer (Strata Cloud Manager)