Senior Sales Engineer - SF Bay Area
At a glance
Senior Solutions & Sales Engineering role at Proofpoint. Sunnyvale · full-time · no salary stated · we estimate $133,000–$200,000 across the United States.
Proofpoint has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Shape account-entry plans with sales colleagues, then serve as the customer’s main technical contact through the buying process
- Run product demonstrations around current cyber threats and lead technical discovery with customer security teams
- Plan, conduct and close proof-of-concept work and production evaluations with customer teams
- Design security solutions across Proofpoint’s portfolio and share field feedback with product, marketing and engineering teams
- At times, support deployments or technical training and take part in industry events
What you bring
- At least six years in a hands-on technical role such as sales engineering, security engineering or another listed function
- You have worked with enterprise organizations and can build customer relationships through in-person meetings
- You bring enterprise or cloud security experience, including SaaS platforms or another listed security area
- You can manage complex evaluations, set expectations and present to technical audiences through C-suite leaders
- A relevant degree or equivalent experience, plus strong presentation and organization skills
Who this fits
This senior role centers on mid-market accounts across the Bay Area, and you need to live in the San Francisco Bay Area. It suits a technically experienced person who can lead customer evaluations and is comfortable moving toward consultative selling. Travel is required.
From the employer
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 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
Candidates for this role should be located in the San Francisco Bay Area
This role will focus on Mid-Market accounts in the Bay Area
What you bring to the team
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 is REQUIRED in 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 accessibility@proofpoint.com.
How to Apply
Interested? Submit your application along with any supporting information- we can’t wait to hear from you!
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