Senior Staff Software Engineer

Palo Alto Networks · Hyderabad · 5+ yrs experience · Posted 2026-06-22

Tech stack: C#, GitHub Actions, SQL

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About the role

As a Performance Engineer for our Identity Security Product, you will design and execute a comprehensive performance engineering strategy. This role requires a hands-on engineer who not only identifies performance degradation but actively investigates, debugs, and implements code-level and database-level fixes. You will work to ensure our SaaS-based IAM systems are ultra-fast and scalable, while championing AI to transform performance data into actionable optimization strategies. Responsibilities: Identify, investigate, debug, and fix performance bottlenecks, memory leaks, CPU spikes, and thread contentions. Optimize SaaS application performance using deep knowledge of the.NET ecosystem. Analyze complex queries, optimize execution plans, and tune databases to eliminate deadlocks and contention. Apply a strong understanding of AI, LLMs, and prompt engineering to build diagnostic and automation frameworks. Dissect complex distributed system issues and formulate clear, actionable execution items for the development team. Utilize AI tools to analyze trace context, error logs, and system states for predictive recommendations and code remedies. Apply system design principles and patterns to build scalable performance frameworks and recommend architectural optimizations. Model and simulate realistic, high-concurrency identity workloads (OAuth2/OIDC, SAML, MFA). Implement 'Performance-as-Code' test suites using K6 or Gatling and integrate them into CI/CD pipelines. Collaborate with SRE to integrate chaos engineering to validate system resiliency. Utilize Generative AI to create synthetic test data and user behavior models from production logs. Harness AI-powered APM engines for autonomous bottleneck detection to reduce Root Cause Analysis (RCA) cycle time. Set up and maintain full-stack telemetry dashboards using tools like DataDog, Grafana, or OpenTelemetry. Qualifications: Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree with 5 years of experience, or Master's degree with 3 years of experience, or a PhD in a related field. 5+ years of dedicated experience in Performance Engineering and development. Proficient development capability in.NET C#. Robust SQL query fine-tuning skills. Strong debugging, problem-solving skills, and deep familiarity with system design principles and software design patterns. Experience working within high-performing, cross-functional Agile squads. Preferred Qualifications Background in high-throughput SaaS architectures and Identity Security platforms (IAM, Authentication, Authorization). Strong understanding of how to implement and leverage AI/LLM utilities to automate workflows. Expert command of performance testing tools like K6, Gatling, or JMeter. Experience with chaos engineering (e.g., LitmusChaos, Chaos Mesh). Experience with observability stacks like DataDog, Grafana, or OpenTelemetry. Experience with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, GitLab CI).

Qualifications

- Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree with 5 years of experience, or Master's degree with 3 years of experience, or a PhD in a related field.
- 5+ years of dedicated experience in Performance Engineering and development.
- Proficient development capability in.NET C#.
- Robust SQL query fine-tuning skills.
- Strong debugging, problem-solving skills, and deep familiarity with system design principles and software design patterns.
- Experience working within high-performing, cross-functional Agile squads.
- Preferred Qualifications Background in high-throughput SaaS architectures and Identity Security platforms (IAM, Authentication, Authorization).
- Strong understanding of how to implement and leverage AI/LLM utilities to automate workflows.
- Expert command of performance testing tools like K6, Gatling, or JMeter.
- Experience with chaos engineering (e.g., LitmusChaos, Chaos Mesh).
- Experience with observability stacks like DataDog, Grafana, or OpenTelemetry.
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, GitLab CI).

Responsibilities

- Identify, investigate, debug, and fix performance bottlenecks, memory leaks, CPU spikes, and thread contentions.
- Optimize SaaS application performance using deep knowledge of the.NET ecosystem.
- Analyze complex queries, optimize execution plans, and tune databases to eliminate deadlocks and contention.
- Apply a strong understanding of AI, LLMs, and prompt engineering to build diagnostic and automation frameworks.
- Dissect complex distributed system issues and formulate clear, actionable execution items for the development team.
- Utilize AI tools to
- analyze trace context, error logs, and system states for predictive recommendations and code remedies.
- Apply system design principles and patterns to build scalable performance frameworks and recommend architectural optimizations.
- Model and simulate realistic, high-concurrency identity workloads (OAuth2/OIDC, SAML, MFA).
- Implement 'Performance-as-Code' test suites using K6 or Gatling and integrate them into CI/CD pipelines.
- Collaborate with SRE to integrate chaos engineering to validate system resiliency.
- Utilize Generative AI to create synthetic test data and user behavior models from production logs.
- Harness AI-powered APM engines for autonomous bottleneck detection to reduce Root Cause Analysis (RCA) cycle time.
- Set up and maintain full-stack telemetry dashboards using tools like DataDog, Grafana, or OpenTelemetry.

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