What it Means to Be a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) at Zscaler

At Zscaler, our commitment to secure, reliable service is non-negotiable. This is the mandate of our site reliability engineers (SREs)—the architects who ensure the world’s largest security cloud runs flawlessly, 24/7.

Today, we're spotlighting Ketan Bhardwaj, a Principal Site Reliability Engineer based in Mohali, India. Ketan joined Zscaler in 2015, driven by a desire to move from a service-based background to a product company that was shaping the future of cloud security. What attracted him was the opportunity to grow fast, innovate, and solve global-scale problems hands-on.

Here, Ketan shares his perspective on the core mission of an SRE, the most impactful projects he’s led over his ten years here, and what makes the culture of ownership and trust at Zscaler truly unique.

The Most Rewarding Work: Architecting Resilience

As a site reliability engineer, my job is to proactively make systems more robust, turning potential failures into non-events. My most rewarding projects have been centered on improving reliability and observability at scale including automation for engineers, self-healing systems, and leading with open telemetry.

The lasting impact of this work is a platform that’s more resilient, proactive, and transparent. Our customers are protected without ever noticing the complex challenges we manage behind the scenes.

The Culture: Ownership, Trust, and Teamwork

What truly makes Zscaler special is the nurturing environment and culture of trust. Our team culture is collaborative and empowering, where everyone works with the same mindset of protecting customers and keeping the world’s largest security cloud running 24/7/365. That combination of culture, trust, and global impact makes Zscaler truly special.

I’ve been on-call during critical Severity 1 incidents where quick action was required. In those moments, I’ve seen teammates, colleagues, and leadership all step in to collaborate, share expertise, and resolve issues quickly. That culture of ownership and support not only restores service faster but also helps us all grow professionally. These experiences have helped me mature into a leader who can stay calm under pressure and guide teams through complex challenges. 

What Makes the SRE Mission Unique

If you’re an SRE at Zscaler, the combination of scale, mission, and culture here is unmatched:

1. Global Impact: We operate one of the world’s largest security clouds. The systems we design are the first line of defense against cyber threats, directly impacting millions of users every day.
2. Mission Alignment: Leadership consistently ensures teams are connected to the bigger picture. It’s incredibly rewarding to know the systems we maintain play a critical role in shaping the security landscape.
3. Culture of Ownership: You're empowered to not just fix problems, but to re-architect solutions. It’s not just about keeping services up—it’s about enabling our customers to operate securely and confidently, every single day.

At Zscaler, we’re committed to creating an environment where collaboration and innovation enable engineers like the SRE team to have the freedom to innovate at massive scale and fulfill our mission of providing global security. Ready to see where your expertise can take you? Explore zscaler.com/careers and start defining your own legacy in cloud security.