Senior Analyst, R&D Strategy & Operations

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 Senior Analyst, R&D Strategy & Operations to join our R&D Analytics & Insights team. This role is hybrid and based in our San Jose, CA or Bellevue, WA office three days a week. Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Engineering Strategy, Planning & Analytics, you will :

Evaluate engineering operations, identify / refine excellence metrics, and deliver exec-ready, actionable insights to engineering leadership to produce business results

Lead R&D business operations : headcount planning, budget allocation, SaaS spend tracking and optimization, and scenario modeling

Analyze investment asks / new initiatives : build governance around success metrics, develop ROI frameworks and iteratively drive metrics & measurement at scale

Perform structured analysis across the Software Development LifeCycle (Design, CI / CD, tests, bugs and incidents) to generate insights, pinpoint process bottlenecks, and enable Engineering Systems to drive measurable improvements

Partner with engineering leaders to evaluate key metrics, proactively identify risks, propose actions to navigate ambiguity, and recommend changes in order to land outcomes

What We're Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

3+ years management consulting or 4+ years in SaaS Ops / Engineering Ops / BizOps with a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Structured problem solving; ability to define and pursue next steps amid ambiguity; attention to detail

Expert level data analytics and transformation : SQL and advanced Excel / Sheets; proficiency in data validation and metric governance

Financial modeling, budgeting, spend optimization, and scenario planning

Familiarity with developer pain points within the modern SaaS SecDevOps stack : (e.g., GitHub / GitLab, CI / CD, testing, Jira etc.)

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

Skills : Alteryx / Python / R for analysis; dbt or similar transformations; data quality tooling

Familiarity with ROI frameworks, measurement design, and business case development

Demonstrable experience with an AI-enabled workstyle, stakeholder management, and executive presence

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-KM9

Zscaler's salary ranges are benchmarked and are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations and could be higher or lower based on a multitude of factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

The base salary range listed for this full-time position excludes commission / bonus / equity (if applicable) + benefits.

Base Pay Range

$105,000-$150,000 USD

At Zscaler, we are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and the customers we work with. We foster an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, emphasizing collaboration and belonging. Join us in our mission to make doing business seamless and secure.

Our Benefits program is one of the most important ways we support our employees. Zscaler proudly offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families throughout their life stages, including :

Various health plans

Time off plans for vacation and sick time

Parental leave options

Retirement options

Education reimbursement

In-office perks, and more!

Learn more about Zscaler's Future of Work strategy, hybrid working model, and benefits here () .

By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.

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.

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.