Most Loved Workplace® Certified Job

Sr Staff AI-ML Data Scientist (ADEM)

Most Loved Workplace® Certified Job

93% of HR leaders say Employer of Choice certifications influence candidates' decision to apply (Most Loved Workplace® and CandE Benchmark Research, 2024)

Santa Clara, California, United States of America

Product Engineering

About the Role

At Palo Alto Networks, a Most Loved Workplace® certified employer in the Computer Software space, Protecting the digital way of life with AI-driven cybersecurity innovation.

Palo Alto Networks' ADEM group is seeking an accomplished Principal AI-ML / Data Scientist to serve as a principal technical anchor for our next-generation AIOps platform. In this role, you will bridge the gap between advanced AI research and production-grade backend software engineering, turning massive system telemetry into autonomous, self-healing capabilities. You will lead the technical design of intelligent, agentic workflows while simultaneously playing a pivotal role in our core backend rearchitecture. This role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader who thrives on building advanced reasoning systems, optimizing large-scale data foundations, and mentoring engineering teams to deliver planet-scale impact.

Want to learn more about what it's like to work at Palo Alto Networks? View our full profile.

Requirements

8+ years in software engineering, with a track record of deploying production-grade ML, GenAI, or agentic workflows at scale.
Strong Python (for AI/ML) combined with professional Go or Java experience for backend microservices.
Hands-on experience with SQL, designing and restructuring BigQuery schemas, and building/managing scalable data pipelines using Dataflow, Google ADK and GKE.
Solid understanding of retrieval systems (RAG), prompt engineering, model evaluation, and statistical modeling.
Ability to build platform-level services that integrate cleanly with adjacent ecosystems (e.g., Prisma Access, Cortex).
BS/MS in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field.
Knowledge of L3-L7 networking is desirable.

Benefits

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location.
The starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/commissioned 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 on the provided link.

Prefer to apply on the company's career site?

View Original Posting

Why This Is a Most Loved Workplace® Certified Job

87% love working here

89% trust their manager

85% would recommend

Systemic Collaboration

Since its founding, Palo Alto Networks has been a global cybersecurity leader, continually growing and delivering innovation to enable secure digital transformation and protect clients’ digital way of life—even as the pace of change is accelerating. Palo Alto Networks measures its growth not only in terms of financial success, but also by its ability to make the world safer every day. With a commitment to innovation in cybersecurity that runs deep, the people of Palo Alto Networks feel inspired to seek new opportunities, new ways to collaborate, and new ways to make a difference.

Positive Vision for the Future

Palo Alto Networks is a values-led company. Its culture is founded on mutual respect and honoring the contributions each person makes. Employees feel a sense of group ownership, and its recognition scheme is based on its values, which were crowdsourced and chosen by its people.

Alignment of Values

Nikesh Arora has led Palo Alto Networks since 2018, focusing on building close, diverse teams. Every week since the pandemic, he has hosted employee roundtables to better understand challenges, hear feedback, and remove roadblocks to help everyone execute their tasks. He deeply values different perspectives and people are always at the top of his agenda.

Respect

Palo Alto Networks puts people first, providing choices whenever possible, and recognizing that each employee is a unique individual. Its policies and benefits reflect a commitment to help with each employee’s development, motivation, and engagement, offering collaborative opportunities that result in a sense of belonging and well-being. These bold strategies enable its 13,500+ employees to enjoy some of the most satisfying work of their careers while delivering successful business results.

Killer Outcomes

Collaboration is a strong company value. Palo Alto Networks’ leadership listens closely to employees while building the culture, and aims to empower people to grow professionally, thrive personally, and create a work experience right for them. With regular communication from executive leadership, management, and peers, paired with innovative technology, employees say they feel more connected than ever before and are thriving from wherever they are.

What It's Like to Work Here

User CEO Leadership

Heart Palo Alto Networks Culture

Handshake Palo Alto Networks Respect

Sparkles Positive Vision

Target Alignment of Values

Certified for: Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces®, Women Most Loved Workplaces® 2025, Certified Most Loved Workplaces® 2025, Top Most Loved Workplaces® for LGBTQ+, Top Most Loved Workplaces® for Parents and Caregivers, Top Most Loved Workplaces® for Volunteering, Top Most Loved Workplaces® for Diversity, Most Loved Workplace® for Inclusivity 2025, Most Loved Workplace® for Young Professionals 2025, Most Loved Workplace® for Women 2025, Most Loved Workplace® for Career Advancement 2025, Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® 2025, Top Most Loved Workplaces® for CEOs, Most Loved Workplace® Certified 2025, Certified Most Loved Workplaces® 2024, Most Loved Workplace® Certified 2024, Most Loved Workplace® Certified 2023, Most Loved Workplace® Certified 2022, Most Loved Workplace® Certified 2021

Frequently Asked Questions About Working at Palo Alto Networks

Common questions candidates ask about this role and Palo Alto Networks's workplace

Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, is shaping the cloud-centric future with technology that is transforming the way people and organizations operate. Its mission is to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting clients' digital way of life.

Please review the specific job listing or contact Palo Alto Networks's recruiting team for details on remote or hybrid work options for this role.

Salary information may vary by role and location. Please check the specific job listing or discuss compensation during the interview process.

Palo Alto Networks is an established organization in its industry. The company is a certified Most Loved Workplace®, highlighting a strong, positive culture and committed workforce.

For this role specifically, benefits include: The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location., The starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/commissioned 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 on the provided link.. You can view more details on their CertCheck profile.

The day-to-day environment is guided by core values such as CEO Leadership and Company Culture and Company Respect.

The company has committed to inclusive practices including: Champion Systemic Collaboration and Cultivate a Positive Vision for the Future.

Palo Alto Networks has an employee workplace love score of 87%. They score particularly well in the area of Systemic Collaboration. They have earned Most Loved Workplace® certifications including: Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces® and Women Most Loved Workplaces® 2025.

Palo Alto Networks currently has 29 open positions. They are hiring across departments like Sales, Product Engineering, Administrative Services. You can view all current openings at certcheck.mostlovedworkplace.com/companies/palo-alto-networks/jobs.

The interview process typically involves an initial recruiter screen followed by team interviews. Please contact Palo Alto Networks's recruiting team for specific details on this role's process.