Sr. Software Engineer

About Us :

Proofpoint is a global leader in human- and agent-centric cybersecurity. We protect how people, data, and AI agents connect across email, cloud, and collaboration tools. Over 80 of the Fortune 100, 10,000 large enterprises, and millions of smaller organizations trust Proofpoint to stop threats, prevent data loss, and build resilience across their people and AI workflows. Our mission is simple : safeguard the digital world and empower people to work securely and confidently. Join us in our pursuit to defend data and protect people.

How We Work :

At Proofpoint you'll be part of a global team that breaks barriers to redefine cybersecurity guided by our BRAVE core values :

Bold in how we dream and innovate

Responsive to feedback, challenges and opportunities

Accountable for results and best in class outcomes

Visionary in future focused problem-solving

Exceptional in execution and impact

Corporate Overview

Proofpoint is a leading cybersecurity company protecting organizations' greatest assets and biggest risks : vulnerabilities in people. With an integrated suite of cloud-based solutions, Proofpoint helps companies around the world stop targeted threats, safeguard their data, and make their users more resilient against cyber-attacks. Leading organizations of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 1000, rely on Proofpoint for people-centric security and compliance solutions mitigating their most critical risks across email, the cloud, social media, and the web. We are singularly devoted to helping our customers protect their greatest assets and biggest security risk : their people. That's why we're a leader in next-generation cybersecurity. Protection Starts with People.

We're looking for an engineer who loves building from the ground up - someone who enjoys turning ideas into working systems, cares deeply about quality, thrives in a fast-moving, collaborative environment. You'll join as an early team member and help shape both the product and culture from day one

Responsibilities

Own problems end-to-end from design to deployment with a strong bias toward quality, automation, and continuous improvement.

Introduce new techniques, architecture, and best practices to improve scalability, efficiency, and reliability.

Build tooling and observability to monitor system health, identify bottlenecks, and proactively resolve instability.

Balance rapid iteration on early-stage systems with long-term maintainability and architectural soundness.

Contribute to a culture of engineering excellence, mentorship, and team-first collaboration.

Skills

7+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a focus on backend / distributed systems.

Experience building and operating production-grade systems at scale in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).

Experience with large-scale distributed systems ideally written in Python, Go or Rust

Experience with micro service design using API gateways, event streaming (kafka / kinesis) and container orchestration (Kubernetes / Docker)

Experience with DevOps workflows and CI / CD pipelines (familiarity with CloudBees / Harness is a plus)

Strong debugging, instrumentation, and observability skills across distributed systems.

Proven ability to take ownership of complex problems and learn quickly.

Experience with AI-assisted development tools such coding assistants etc.

Bonus - Experience building agentic AI applications leveraging LLM frameworks, MCP servers; AI engineering experience

Startup experience - especially as a founder or early engineer who has built a product from scratch - is a strong plus.

Why Proofpoint

As a customer focused and driven-to-win organization with leading edge products, there are many exciting reasons to join the Proofpoint team. We believe in hiring the best the brightest and cultivating a culture of collaboration and appreciation. As we continue to grow and expand globally, we understand that hiring the right people and developing great teams is key to our success! We are a multi-national company with locations in many countries, with each location contributing to Proofpoint's amazing culture! #LI-AN1

Why Proofpoint?

At Proofpoint, we believe that an exceptional career experience includes a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Here are just a few reasons you'll love working with us :

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Career success on your terms

Flexible work environment

Annual wellness and community outreach days

Always on recognition for your contributions

Global collaboration and networking opportunities

Our Culture :

Our culture is rooted in values that inspire belonging, empower purpose and drive success-every day, for everyone.

We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please reach out to accessibility@proofpoint.com .

How to Apply

Interested? Submit your application along with any supporting information- we can't wait to hear from you!

Consistent with Proofpoint values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets as set out below. Pay within these ranges varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. The range provided may represent a candidate range and may not reflect the full range for an individual tenured employee. This role may be eligible for variable compensation and / or equity. We offer a competitive benefits package, including flexible time off, a comprehensive well-being program with two paid Wellbeing Days and two paid Volunteer Days per year, plus a three-week Work from Anywhere option.

Base Pay Ranges :

SF Bay Area, New York City Metro Area :

Base Pay Range : 161,625.00 - 237,050.00 USD

California (excludes SF Bay Area), Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Washington DC Metro, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, Virginia, and Alaska :

Base Pay Range : 132,225.00 - 193,930.00 USD

All other cities and states excluding those listed above :

Base Pay Range : 120,525.00 - 176,770.00 USD

Proofpoint has been honored with six Best Places to Work Awards in 2024 by workplace culture leader Comparably, including Best Company Career Growth, Best Company Outlook, Best Global Culture, Best Engineering Teams, Best Sales Teams, and Best HR Teams.

We are the leader in human-centric cybersecurity. Half a million customers, including 87 of the Fortune 100, rely on Proofpoint to protect their organizations. We're driven by a mission to stay ahead of bad actors and safeguard the digital world. Join us in our pursuit to defend data and protect people.

Our BRAVE Values :

At Proofpoint, we are BRAVE in everything we do, and our values aren't just words-they shape how we work, collaborate, and grow.

We seek people who are bold enough to challenge the status quo, responsive in the face of ever-evolving threats, and accountable for delivering real impact.

We value those with a visionary mindset who anticipate what's next and push cybersecurity forward, and we celebrate exceptional execution that ensures we continue to defend data and protect people.

Proofpoint is an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Find your network, your allies, and your biggest fans. We know that work is simply better when you're surrounded by people who inspire you-who share ideas, cheer you on, and genuinely want to see you succeed. That's why we offer social circles, sponsored networks, and connection points across teams and time zones-to help you find your people, build your community, and thrive together.

This isn't just a job-it's a mission to protect people and defend data in a world that never slows down. We're building the future of human-centric cybersecurity, and that future belongs to all of us. We take ownership, move fast, and hold ourselves accountable-because that's what it takes to stay ahead. And we do it together, winning as one.

Be empowered to reach your full potential through meaningful challenges and personalized support-designed around you and your goals. Whether you're growing as a leader or leveling up from great to exceptional as an individual contributor, we're here to help you get there.

Proofpoint is an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.