Principal Sales Engineer

Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™️ platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across 160+ public exchanges globally and thousands of private exchanges at the edge, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.

We believe the future of work is Human + AI and are building an AI-native enterprise where human potential is amplified by machine intelligence to solve the world’s hardest security challenges. Driven by deep customer obsession, we are committed to the mission, outcome, and to each other. We bring these commitments to life through three core behaviors: ownership and collaboration, trust through outcomes and impact, and a challenge culture with ongoing feedback. Ready to make an impact at the company pioneering security transformation in the AI era? Join us at Zscaler.

Role We are looking for a Principal Sales Engineer to join our team. This is a Remote (Milan, Italy) role, reporting to the Sales Engineering Manager in the Solutions Consulting department. In this position, you will set the technical direction for marquee opportunities in Italy and partner with extended teams to drive strategic outcomes for our most significant customers. You will pioneer new offerings, influence the product roadmap, establish cross-portfolio architecture standards, and represent the Solutions Consulting function in key partner and analyst forums. Additionally, you will mentor senior Sales Engineers, assess regional capability gaps, and package field insights into roadmap proposals as part of the EMEA technical advisory function.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

Position Zscaler Value through technical expertise and sales experience to win the mindshare of customer technical teams

Drive enablement and solution development with customers and partners to create opportunities and close new business

Drive cross-portfolio architecture into strategic customers, and ensure that emerging solution areas are adapted to customer needs over the longer one- to two-year term

Engage stakeholders from the C-level down to the Head of Department, while working with account teams to solve critical technical challenges at the individual practitioner level

Share joint ownership of the sales forecasts together with the regional leadership team and assigned Account Executives.

Who You Are (Success Profile)

You act like an owner with a passion for the mission that fuels a bias for action, operating with integrity and navigating seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution

You are a dedicated problem-solver who is energized by seeking out challenges, knowing that solving hard problems delivers the biggest impact

You are driven by innovation, possessing a deep curiosity for how things work and a strong belief in the power of technology to accelerate secure, scalable transformation

You think at scale by connecting your day-to-day work to the larger company mission, building solutions and processes designed to support a high-growth, global organization

You are resilient and adaptable, viewing change as an opportunity, maintaining composure in high-pressure situations, and guiding teams through complexity with a steady hand

What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

Demonstrated curiosity and active exploration of AI tools, with a proven history of integrating new technologies to enhance daily workflows and augment problem-solving

More than 12 years of technical pre-sales experience, with at least 5 years in senior individual contributor level roles or technical leadership positions

Deep experience with all aspects of the Zscaler and peer platforms, including network security, networking technologies, AI security, identity and access management, cyber risk, and EDR/XDR

Proven ability to navigate complex multinational organizational structures

Proven execution of high-value and technically demanding Proof of Values (PoVs), especially when minimal overlay resources are available

Demonstrated capability in collaborating with solution architects to resolve highly complex technical edge cases within constrained timeframes

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

Established thought leadership within the realms of emerging security paradigms such as agentic AI security, AI guardrails, and post-quantum cryptography