Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Palo Alto Networks

Confirmed live today High trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Salary: $163,200–$264,000 / yr
Posted: 8 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live today
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $223k

This role $214k

$149k $291k

below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays less than 61% of similar roles. Most pay $192,050–$254,750 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $214k versus about $223k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is a global cybersecurity company offering network security, cloud security, and endpoint protection solutions.

Palo Alto Networks currently has 51 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $159,100–$257,400 across 47 roles with salary data.

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View all roles at Palo Alto Networks

At a glance

TL;DR · Principal Machine Learning Engineer

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The Principal Machine Learning Engineer (AI-ML Data Scientist - ADEM) joins the ADEM group to serve as a principal technical anchor for a next-generation AIOps platform. This role involves bridging advanced AI research with production-grade backend software engineering to transform system telemetry into autonomous, self-healing capabilities. You will lead the technical design of intelligent, agentic workflows, building reasoning pipelines, retrieval systems (RAG), and knowledge graph integrations. Key responsibilities include building, fine-tuning, and adapting LLMs and multimodal models while integrating traditional statistical models into agentic workflows. Required skills include Python, Go, or Java, along with experience in SQL, BigQuery, Dataflow, and GKE. You will solve complex problems involving network troubleshooting, prompt design, and model evaluation to ensure scalable, reliable, and safe production performance.

What does a Machine Learning Engineer earn in California?

Median $235750 from 200 postings across 34 companies.

See salary data

Skills

Python Go Java SQL LLM GenAI RAG BigQuery Dataflow GKE Google ADK Statistical Modeling Prompt Engineering Microservices Networking

What you'll do

Lead the design and implementation of ML, LLM, and GenAI-powered agents for autonomous task execution.
Build advanced reasoning pipelines, retrieval systems (RAG), and knowledge graph integrations for network troubleshooting.
Build, fine-tune, and adapt LLMs and multimodal models for processing complex endpoint telemetry.
Drive end-to-end solution development from prototype to production while ensuring scalability, reliability, and safety.
Establish best practices for prompt design, agent memory management, and context optimization.
Evaluate emerging agent frameworks and generative AI technologies to inform platform architecture and roadmap decisions.
Design and restructure BigQuery schemas and build scalable data pipelines using Dataflow and GKE.
Build platform-level services that integrate with existing ecosystems like Prisma Access and Cortex.

What we're looking for

8+ years of experience in software engineering with a track record of deploying production-grade ML, GenAI, or agentic workflows at scale.
Proficiency in Python for AI/ML and professional experience with Go or Java for backend microservices.
Hands-on experience with SQL, BigQuery schema design, and building 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 with adjacent ecosystems.
BS/MS in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field.
Knowledge of L3-L7 networking (preferred).

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