Director, AI Strategy (Engineering Operations)

Director, AI Strategy (Engineering Operations)

Bellevue, Washington, USA; San Jose, California, USA

About

Zscaler

Zscaler accelerates digital transformation so our customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. Our cloud native Zero Trust Exchange platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location.

Here,

impact in your role matters more than title

and trust is built on results. We believe in transparency and value

constructive, honest debate —we’re focused on getting to the best ideas, faster. We build high-performing teams that can make an impact quickly and with high quality. To do this, we are building a culture of execution centered on

customer obsession , collaboration, ownership and accountability.

We value high-impact, high-accountability with a sense of urgency where you’re enabled to do your best work and embrace your potential. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges and want to make a positive difference on a global scale, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity.

Our Engineering team built the world’s largest cloud security platform from the ground up, and we keep building. With more than 100 patents and big plans for enhancing services and increasing our global footprint, the team has made us and our multitenant architecture today's cloud security leader, with more than 15 million users in 185 countries. Bring your vision and passion to our team of cloud architects, software engineers, security experts, and more who are enabling organizations worldwide to harness speed and agility with a cloud-first strategy.

We’re looking for an experienced Director, AI Strategy to join our Engineering Operations team. This role is hybrid and based in our San Jose, CA or Bellevue, WA office three days a week. Reporting to the Director of Engineering Operations, you will lead the AI strategy, platforms, and programs that enable and accelerate AI adoption and measurable impact across the entire R&D organization. In your role you will be responsible for

Owning the centralized AI strategy, roadmap, and governance for R&D, managing use case identification, technology stacks, vendor evaluations, build-vs-buy decisions, and the evolution of the AI operating model

Leading a team of AI / ML developers, analysts, and program managers to deliver scalable AI solutions that improve engineering velocity, quality, and productivity

Architecting and operating the core AI platform layer, including MCP servers, agent frameworks, retrieval pipelines, model access patterns, telemetry, and impact measurement

Running cross-functional AI programs—managing intake, prioritization, business‑case development, and delivery—while partnering with DevSecOps, SDLC, Architecture, and Product to embed AI into engineering workflows

Driving real, measurable AI adoption across engineering teams by leading Voice‑of‑the‑Customer programs and change‑management initiatives

What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

10+ years of experience in software engineering, AI / ML infrastructure, platform engineering, or engineering productivity

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, or related technical field

Expertise in AI architecture, MCP server patterns, agent orchestration, retrieval systems, and LLM‑enabled workflow design

Hands‑on experience with GitLab / GitLab Duo, Gemini Code Assist, Windsurf, Cursor, or comparable AI‑enhanced development tooling

Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional engineering programs and shipping scalable, measurable AI capabilities

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

Master’s degree, MBA, or advanced certifications in AI / ML / MLOps

Background in management or technology consulting, driving engineering or AI transformation programs

Experience leading org‑wide enablement, VOC programs, and change management for engineering tools or workflow adoption

Benefits

Time off plans for vacation and sick time

Parental leave options

Retirement options

In‑office perks, and more!

Base Pay Range

$206,500 - $295,000 USD

Pay Transparency

Zscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules.

Zscaler is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations or adjustments) in our recruiting processes for candidates who are differently abled, have long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy‑related support.

Zscaler is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the chance to succeed. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. See more information by clicking on the Know Your Rights : Workplace Discrimination is Illegal link.

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