Staff / Sr. Staff Engineer, Agentic AI

Today, there's more data and users outside the enterprise than inside, causing the network perimeter as we know it to dissolve. We realized a new perimeter was needed, one that is built in the cloud and follows and protects data wherever it goes, so we started Netskope to redefine Cloud, Network and Data Security. 

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Staff Software Engineer to build next-generation security analytics and AI-powered capabilities within Netskope's platform. This is a high-impact individual contributor role for an engineer who excels at solving complex technical problems at the intersection of artificial intelligence, large-scale data systems, and cybersecurity.

As a Senior Staff Engineer, you will design and implement sophisticated systems that leverage cutting-edge AI/ML techniques, graph-based analytics, and real-time data processing to solve critical security challenges. You will work on problems spanning threat detection, risk assessment, behavioral analytics, and intelligent automation—building the systems that help security teams at the world's largest enterprises detect and respond to threats.

This role requires deep technical expertise with strong hands-on implementation skills. You will collaborate closely with Distinguished Engineers, senior engineers, product managers, and security researchers to deliver production-quality solutions that operate at massive scale. Your code and architectural decisions will directly impact how thousands of organizations protect their critical assets.

• 10-15 years of software engineering experience with progression to senior roles
• Expert-level proficiency in Python with modern frameworks and libraries
• Production experience with at least one other language (Go, Java, Scala, or C++)
• Deep understanding of distributed systems including consistency, scalability, and fault tolerance
• Strong computer science fundamentals: algorithms, data structures, complexity analysis
• Expert-level proficiency in Python with modern frameworks and libraries
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and cloud-native architectures
• Solid understanding of software design patterns and system architecture principles

• 3+ years hands-on experience building AI/ML systems in production, including:
• Working with Large Language Models (OpenAI API, Anthropic Claude, or similar)
• Building RAG systems using frameworks like LangChain or LangGraph
• Implementing vector search with vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, Chroma, pgvector)
• ML model training, evaluation, and deployment
• MLOps practices including model monitoring and versioning
• Experience with graph databases (Neo4j, TigerGraph, or similar) including:
• Graph data modeling and schema design
• Writing complex graph queries (Cypher, Gremlin, or similar)
• Graph algorithms and traversals
• Strong data engineering skills:
• Streaming data processing (Kafka, Flink, or similar)
• Large-scale data storage systems (ClickHouse, Snowflake, BigQuery)
• ETL/ELT pipeline design and implementation
• Working with both structured and unstructured data

• 5+ years of experience in cybersecurity with practical understanding of:
• Security operations workflows
• Threat detection and incident response
• Security data sources (logs, network traffic, endpoint telemetry)
• Common attack patterns and TTPs
• Security frameworks (MITRE ATT&CK)
• Experience with security analytics systems such as:
• Behavioral analytics and anomaly detection
• Threat intelligence platforms
• Security automation and orchestration
• Familiarity with security compliance requirements (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA)

• Proven track record delivering complex projects from design through production deployment
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills for distributed systems
• Experience with testing including unit testing, integration testing, and test automation
• Proficiency with version control (Git) and CI/CD pipelines
• Understanding of monitoring and observability (Prometheus, Grafana, distributed tracing)
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Ability to work with ambiguity and drive technical decisions with incomplete information
• Strong problem-solving skills breaking down complex problems into manageable components

• Excellent written communication for technical documentation and design specs
• Clear verbal communication for explaining complex technical concepts
• Collaborative mindset working effectively with cross-functional teams
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback in code reviews and design discussions
• Experience mentoring junior and mid-level engineers
• Customer empathy understanding security practitioner needs and workflows

• Experience in cybersecurity product companies or security-focused roles
• Background in security research or threat hunting
• Contributions to open-source projects in AI/ML, security, or data engineering
• Experience with advanced graph algorithms: community detection, centrality measures, path finding
• Familiarity with behavioral analytics and UEBA systems
• Knowledge of prompt engineering and LLM optimization techniques
• Experience with real-time systems requiring low-latency processing
• Understanding of data privacy and secure system design
• Experience with streaming ML and online learning systems
• Conference presentations or blog posts on technical topics

You will work hands-on with:

• Languages: Python (primary), Go, Java/Scala
• AI/ML Frameworks: TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, LangChain, LangGraph
• LLM APIs: OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Azure OpenAI
• Graph Databases: Neo4j, TigerGraph, or Apache AGE
• Vector Databases: Pinecone, Weaviate, Chroma, pgvector
• Streaming: Apache Kafka, Apache Flink
• Data Storage: ClickHouse, PostgreSQL, data lakes (S3/Delta/Iceberg)
• Cloud: AWS, Azure, or GCP
• Orchestration: Kubernetes, Docker, Airflow
• Monitoring: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack
• Development: Git, CI/CD (Jenkins, GitLab, GitHub Actions)