About Zscaler

Zscaler accelerates digital transformation to ensure our customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. As an AI-forward enterprise, we are constantly pushing the envelope, leveraging the world’s largest security data lake to power our cloud-native Zero Trust Exchange platform. This innovation protects our 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 say, impact over activity. We seek innovators who actively use AI to amplify their impact and who thrive in an environment where we leverage intelligent systems to stay ahead of evolving threats. 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 be part of the team that’s helping to secure the AI age, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity.

Role

We are looking for an Executive Recruiting Researcher to join our team. This is a hybrid role based in San Jose, CA, reporting to the Head of Executive Recruiting.

As an Executive Recruiting Researcher, you are the strategic intelligence engine of our leadership hiring. This isn't traditional sourcing; it is a high-visibility role where your market intelligence and talent mapping directly influence the leadership bench for our most business critical roles across the enterprise. Working closely with our Executive Recruiters, you will serve as a thought partner to our C-suite and VP-level stakeholders, providing rich insights needed to attract the "ungettable" talent that drives our global scale.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

Build comprehensive, visual maps of competitor organizations and technical ecosystems (e.g., SASE, Zero Trust, AI/ML, Agentic) to identify the "architects" of industry shifts

Lead the implementation of short- and long-term hiring plans for complex technical functions, delivering qualitative and quantitative research that informs search parameters

Cultivate long-term relationships with passive, high-level prospects, providing evaluations aligned with our Cultural Attributes and Ways of Working

Proactively identify and map leadership talent from varied backgrounds to ensure we build a diverse and representative leadership team

Monitor the security landscape—including M&A activity, funding rounds, and major breaches—to provide real-time education to executives on market availability

Who You Are (Success Profile)

You thrive in ambiguity. You're comfortable building the path as you walk it. You thrive in a dynamic environment, seeing ambiguity not as a hindrance, but as the raw material to build something meaningful.

You act like an owner. Your passion for the mission fuels your bias for action. You operate with integrity because you genuinely care about the outcome. You adapt to what’s needed, navigating seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.

You are a high-trust collaborator. You are ambitious for the team, not just yourself. You embrace our challenge culture by giving and receiving ongoing feedback—knowing that candor delivered with clarity and respect is the truest form of teamwork and the fastest way to earn trust.

You are data-driven. You use data and analytics to find the truth, measure what matters, and guide informed decisions. You value evidence over assumptions, replacing "I think" with "I know" to drive better outcomes.

You lead with integrity. You do the right thing, even when it’s hard. You hold yourself and others to a high standard of accountability and build trust by matching your words with consistent, transparent action.

What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

Prior experience in a top-tier search firm or in-house executive recruiting team

Proven experience conducting qualitative talent research and mapping complex organizational structures

Fluency with talent platforms, market analytics tools, and OSINT research methodologies

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

Direct experience with Enterprise SaaS or Cybersecurity leadership hiring

Ability to influence C-level stakeholders without authority, using data-driven insights to challenge assumptions and calibrate searches

A growth mindset with the ability to quickly synthesize data from multiple sources into actionable hiring strategies

#Hybrid

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

$115,500—$165,000 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.

Executive Recruiting Researcher

Job Description

Role