Principal Automation/Test Engineer

OverviewCompany: Palo Alto NetworksOur Mission: Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life. Our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. We challenge and disrupt the way things are done and seek innovators committed to shaping the future of cybersecurity.Who We Are: We protect our customers and believe the unique ideas of every team member contribute to our collective success. Our values include disruptive innovation, collaboration, execution, integrity, and inclusion. We support development and personal wellbeing programs with options such as FLEXBenefits, mental and financial health resources, and personalized learning opportunities. We encourage collaboration and in-person interactions and offer flexibility where needed to foster problem-solving and trusted relationships. Our goal is to create an environment where we all win with precision.Job DescriptionYour CareerWe are seeking a highly skilled Principal Quality Engineer to join our team in Santa Clara, US. This is a senior, hands-on technical role focused on driving an AI-First quality strategy. You will architect, develop, and implement sophisticated test automation frameworks. The ideal candidate is a deep technical expert with a passion for leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to revolutionize the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), from test automation and code generation to pioneering new quality paradigms.Your ImpactAI-Driven Test Strategy & Architecture: Design and implement a visionary test automation strategy that leverages AI/ML for intelligent test case generation, predictive quality analytics, and self-healing automation frameworks.Hands-On Test Automation Development: Lead the development of robust, scalable, and maintainable test automation frameworks from the ground up using languages like Python or Java. You will be writing code and setting the standard for the entire team.AI Fluency in Practice: Utilize generative AI and other AI-powered tools for efficient test code generation, synthetic data creation, and anomaly detection within applications and CI/CD pipelines.Technical Leadership and Mentorship: Act as the foremost technical authority in quality engineering. Mentor and guide other engineers on best practices in software testing, automation, and the application of AI in QE.Drive AI-First SDLC: Champion and integrate an AI-First mindset throughout the software development lifecycle, influencing how we build, test, and release software.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Software Development, DevOps, and Product Management to embed quality into the development process and ensure delivery of high-quality, reliable products.Continuous Improvement: Research, evaluate, and implement cutting-edge tools and technologies in test automation and AI to continuously enhance testing efficiency and effectiveness.Your Experience15+ years of hands-on experience in Quality Engineering or Software Development in Test (SDET).Expert-level programming skills in Python, Java, or a similar object-oriented language.Proven experience in designing, building, and maintaining complex test automation frameworks from scratch (e.g., Pytest, Selenium, Playwright, REST Assured).Strong practical knowledge and experience applying AI/ML concepts and tools to software quality challenges, including hands-on experience with generative AI for code/test generation.Experience with AI-powered copilot tools for script generation and development productivity.Deep expertise with CI/CD pipelines, Git, and modern DevOps practices.Experience testing complex, distributed systems and microservices architectures.Excellent analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills with an ability to think strategically about quality and technical challenges.Exceptional communication skills for articulating complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.EducationBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent military experience required. A Master’s degree is a plus.The TeamOur IT Quality Assurance team ensures high-quality products are delivered to business users. They are the first line of defence in vetting new product builds and assisting engineers in building reliable and scalable solutions. This function enables IT to execute with excellence at a faster pace without compromising delivery pensation DisclosureThe compensation offered for this position depends on qualifications, experience, and work location. Offers may include base salary, base salary plus commission target, restricted stock units, and a bonus. A description of employee benefits may be found here.Our CommitmentWe’re problem solvers who take risks and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. Diversity and collaborative innovation are essential to achieving our mission.We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation, please contact us at Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-09-21