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
The Role and the Team
At Proofpoint, the members of our Sales Engineering team are highly valued business partners that play a critical role in our sales process every single day.
As a Sales Engineer working with Mid-Market accounts, you will be one of the most important members of the Proofpoint sales team. You will become a trusted advisor to both the Account Managers you are paired with, as well as our current and future customers. As a technical liaison and subject matter expert on all things Proofpoint, you will help to deliver People-Centric solutions that protect against today’s cyber threats.
You will get to develop and tell a compelling story that will excite your customer and have them eager to hear more. Your story may include onsite product demonstrations, white-boarding sessions, mini-trainings, Lunch-n-Learns, Proof-of-Concept, Production Evaluations, all in pursuit of providing a solution to your customer that you will take pride in being a part of. It’s an exciting time to be at Proofpoint!
Candidates for this role should be located in the Detroit metro area or Minneapolis metro area.
- The Sales Engineer is the Technical Lead for the Proofpoint Pre-Sales process, including:
- Collaborate with the sales team to develop and execute targeted account penetration strategies
- Build trust and rapport with customers and prospects in person, and be their main technical point of contact throughout the process
- Deliver compelling product demonstrations that address today’s most pressing cyber threats
- Work closely with customer/prospect security staff for technical discovery, as well as planning, execution and wrap up of Proof-of-Concept (POC) and Production Evaluations
- You will design and champion complex People-Centric Security solutions encompassing the entire Proofpoint portfolio
- You may, occasionally, be called upon to assist in professional services deployments, technical training, and to present at or attend industry seminars and/or trade shows
- You will be able to provide valuable customer insight and real-world experiences to Product Management, Marketing and Product Development (Engineering) teams to help keep our solutions the best in the industry
- You will become an expert in Email Security Gateways, Advanced Persistent Threats, Attack Protection, Threat Response, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and the threat landscape
Job Requirements:
- 6+ years of hands on technical experience, either as a Sales/Systems Engineer, Technical Account Manager, Security Engineer or senior level product support, preferably in the cyber-security industry
- Proven track record developing and maintaining customer relationships through in person meetings, ideally in a local territory
- Experience working with large (Enterprise) clients/organizations
- Self-starter and ability to own and drive initiatives
- History of conducting large-scale assessments and/or evaluations, including managing expectations, deliverables, and complex systems as well as the teams that support them
- Comfortable presenting to individuals and/or teams including technical staff through C-suite
- You have experience in Enterprise or Cloud Security, including cloud/SaaS platforms, messaging, data, network, endpoint, NOC/SOC, or MSP-related cybersecurity
- Experience selling and positioning a platform is highly valued
- Exposure to at least two of the following skill sets are recommended:
- Cloud security and shadow IT monitoring
- IT security, vulnerability or risk assessments, and policy enforcement
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP), compliance and privacy
- Enterprise email solutions such as Exchange, G-Suite, Lotus Domino or working knowledge of SMTP
- Additional skills that are added bonuses include:
- Directory Services and protocols such as AD, Azure AD, LDAP, iDP (identity providers)
- Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
- Networking and protocols such as SMTP, DNS, LDAP, HTTP, etc.
- Experience with frameworks such as MITRE and/or NIST
- You have a background in consultative approach to solving problems and/or have a strong desire to pivot your career towards a sales direction
- You can thrive in a fast paced, high-energy environment
- You can work independently, adapt quickly and maintain a positive attitude
- Strong PowerPoint, presentation and organizational skills are a must
- CISSP or other relevant cyber-security and/or cloud security certifications are valued
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience
- Travel required for this role.
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 [email protected].
How to Apply
Interested? Submit your application along with any supporting information- we can’t wait to hear from you!
Skills Required
- 6+ years of hands-on technical experience as a Sales Engineer, Systems Engineer, Technical Account Manager, Security Engineer, or senior product support professional
- Cybersecurity industry experience preferred
- Proven ability to develop and maintain customer relationships through in-person meetings
- Experience working with large enterprise clients or organizations
- Ability to independently own and drive initiatives
- Experience conducting large-scale assessments or evaluations involving complex systems, deliverables, expectations, and supporting teams
- Comfort presenting to technical staff and C-suite audiences
- Experience in enterprise or cloud security, including cloud/SaaS, messaging, data, network, endpoint, NOC/SOC, or MSP cybersecurity
- Experience selling and positioning a platform
- Exposure to at least two of cloud security and shadow IT monitoring, security or risk assessments, DLP, compliance and privacy, enterprise email solutions, or SMTP
- Knowledge of directory services and protocols such as Active Directory, Azure AD, LDAP, or identity providers
- Knowledge of email authentication including SPF, DKIM, or DMARC
- Knowledge of networking protocols including SMTP, DNS, LDAP, or HTTP
- Experience with MITRE or NIST frameworks
- Consultative problem-solving background or strong interest in transitioning toward sales
- Ability to work independently, adapt quickly, and maintain a positive attitude in a fast-paced environment
- Strong PowerPoint, presentation, and organizational skills
- CISSP or relevant cybersecurity or cloud security certification
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience
- Ability to travel for the role
- Location in the Detroit metro area or Minneapolis metro area
Proofpoint Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Proofpoint and has not been reviewed or approved by Proofpoint.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage spans medical, dental, vision, life, and disability, complemented by global physical, mental, and financial health programs. Wellbeing resources such as mindfulness, resilience, and meditation courses are explicitly highlighted.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off provisions include PTO, paid holidays and sick days, with parental and family medical leave available. Added flexibility appears in wellness days, a hybrid-first model, and limited work-from-anywhere periods.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered competitive in many roles and settings, with external recognition indicating strong standing relative to peers. Feedback suggests employees in several departments view compensation favorably when considering base, bonus, and benefits together.
Proofpoint Insights
What We Do
We provide the most effective cybersecurity and compliance solutions to protect people on every channel including email, the web, the cloud, and social media.
