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Josh, QA Staff Software Engineer at Palo Alto Networks, discussing his career growth and the SASE-QA team in Santa Clara.

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Monday, March 9, 2026

From Intern to Staff Software Engineer: How Josh Accelerated His Career in Cybersecurity

Building a career in cybersecurity often starts with a single opportunity to learn. For Josh, that journey began as an intern in 2022. Today, as a QA Staff Software Engineer in our Santa Clara headquarters, Josh serves as the first line of defense for our PRA, RBI, and app security products.


Through the LEAP program and a culture that trusts early-career talent with significant responsibility, Josh has leveraged AI to accelerate his learning and secure the enterprise. Whether he is testing complex AI technologies or competing on the company soccer pitch, Josh’s story is a testament to the community and innovation at Palo Alto Networks.


At a Glance: Josh’s Journey


  • The Path: Joined as an intern in 2022; transitioned through the LEAP program.
  • The Role: Supporting PRA, RBI, and App Security products as a "first line of defense."
  • The Tech: Using AI to build innovative solutions and test products in new ways on the SASE-QA team.
  • The Vibe: A warm, social office environment (with excellent snacks).

The First Line of Defense: Life in SASE-QA


Meet Josh:


“I’m a QA staff software engineer, and I work on the QA team supporting PRA, RBI, and app security products. As a QA engineer, it’s pretty awesome getting to work on a product like this, because not only has it let me learn a true cybersecurity product end-to-end—which is a prerequisite for testing it—but also, it lets me work to keep people safe, because I’m sort of the first line of defense against any potential issues or bugs that might come up, which would impact our customers.”


The Santa Clara Office Experience


Can you describe the energy or vibe of the Santa Clara office space?"


"I think it’s a very warm place. Two, social—I think there are a lot of people who are willing to like, come around and talk to you or just wave and say hello. And three, I got to go with snacks. I feel like it's a classic. There's, on every floor, snacks and drinks for you to go partake in."


Learning and Growing Through LEAP


How has Palo Alto Networks supported your professional development?


"I have been a part of Palo Alto Networks since I was an intern in 2022, I have worked on several projects since and while every team has a unique community they all have one thing in common, the people. I can confidently say that everyone I have worked with has been willing to go above and beyond to help me learn and grow. Furthermore, the LEAP program which I joined when I graduated from college, allowed me to not only establish relationships with talented colleagues but also make genuine connections and form long lasting friendships.


Even though I’m early in my career, I’ve been trusted with a lot of responsibility very quickly. I think that speaks to how Palo Alto Networks uses AI to level the playing field. Everyone on my team uses AI to build innovative solutions and learn new technologies faster than ever. That’s why I love the SASE-QA team: I get to learn about complex AI technologies every day and use them to test our products in new ways."


Beyond the Screen: Soccer, Catan, and Community


Tell us something fun about you or your hobbies outside of work!


"In my free time, you can usually find me playing pickleball or competing in board games like Catan and Chess. I also play a lot of soccer with colleagues. We actually just won the yearly company Futsal tournament and secured our spot on the champions' banner in the Palo Gym! Soccer has been a huge part of my experience here; it was the perfect medium to break the ice and make friends when I first joined and didn't know anyone."

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