At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical strategy and execution for high-value opportunities across EMEA.
- Company: Join Proofpoint, a global leader in cybersecurity, protecting people and data.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible work, wellness days, and global networking opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic culture that values collaboration, innovation, and diverse perspectives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in cybersecurity while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in technical roles with strong problem-solving and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
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
- Senior Presales Solutions Engineer – EMEA
About the Role
The
Senior Presales Solutions Engineer is a highly technical individual contributor responsible for leading the technical strategy and execution of complex, high-value opportunities across EMEA.
We are looking for an exceptional AI enabled, technical presales professional who can operate as a trusted technical authority with customers, Sales, Product, and Engineering.
You will be expected to design credible solutions, own complex technical evaluations, troubleshoot difficult problems, and drive opportunities to a successful technical outcome.
This role requires someone who combines deep technical capability, strong customer presence, structured problem-solving, and commercial judgement .
Key Responsibilities
- Technical Sales & Customer Engagement
- Lead the technical presales motion for strategic and enterprise opportunities.
- Own technical discovery, solution design, validation, and the technical win.
- Advise customers on architecture, security requirements, integrations, risks, and technical trade-offs.
- Communicate credibly with both technical practitioners and executive stakeholders.
- Identify and remove technical blockers before they impact deal progression.
- POC & Technical Validation
- Own complex POCs and technical evaluations from scope through completion.
- Define clear success criteria, test plans, dependencies, and expected outcomes.
- Configure and validate solutions in complex customer environments.
- Personally troubleshoot issues that arise during evaluations and maintain customer confidence.
- Engage Support, Product, or Engineering effectively when deeper escalation is required.
- Technical Leadership
- Act as a senior technical authority across Proofpoint solutions and relevant security domains.
- Diagnose complex issues across products, integrations, identity, networking, cloud, email, and data security environments.
- Use logs, APIs, configuration data, telemetry, and structured troubleshooting to identify root cause.
- Handle advanced technical objections and competitive challenges with confidence.
- Mentor Presales Engineers and help raise technical standards across the region.
- Cross-Functional Impact
- Provide high-quality field feedback to Product and Engineering.
- Influence product, documentation, tooling, and presales improvements based on recurring customer challenges.
- Collaborate effectively across Sales, Product, Engineering, Support, and Professional Services.
- Create reusable technical guidance, best practices, and POC methodologies.
- Required Experience
- Typically
8+ years in Presales Engineering, Sales Engineering, Security Engineering, Technical Consulting, Professional Services, or a similarly technical customer-facing role.
- Strong experience with enterprise customers and complex technical sales cycles.
- Extensive experience managing resolutions through Product Management & Engineering Channels.
- Proven ownership of complex POCs, solution designs, and technical evaluations.
- Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot difficult multi-system technical issues.
- Experience supporting strategic or high-value opportunities where technical credibility directly influenced the outcome.
- Strong ability to operate autonomously and influence cross-functional teams.
- Proofpoint experience is advantageous.
- Technical Capability
Strong technical foundations across enterprise security and infrastructure, including several of the following:
- Email security, SMTP, DNS, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
- Microsoft 365 and Exchange
- Data Loss Prevention and Insider Threat Management
- Identity, SSO, authentication, and directory services
- Cloud, hybrid, and on-premises architectures
- APIs, integrations, JSON, and authentication mechanisms
- SIEM/SOAR and wider security ecosystem integrations
- HTTP, TLS, proxies, networking, and certificates
- Logging, telemetry, and diagnostic analysis
- Automation, scripting, and modern AI tooling
- Strong Proofpoint experience is highly desirable, particularly across
Information & Cloud Security, DLP, ITM, and email security .
Candidates from adjacent enterprise security technologies will also be considered where they demonstrate exceptional technical depth, troubleshooting capability, and the ability to learn quickly.
- What We Value
- Deep technical curiosity and strong troubleshooting instincts.
- Ability to structure ambiguous technical problems and drive them to resolution.
- Exceptional communication skills across technical and executive audiences.
- Calm, credible, and effective under pressure.
- Strong commercial judgement and understanding of enterprise buying decisions.
- Experienced encouraging collaboration with Product & Engineering groups.
- Ability to challenge assumptions and provide clear, technically honest recommendations.
- High levels of autonomy, ownership, and accountability.
- Success Looks Like
- Customers trust your judgement on complex technical decisions.
- Sales teams rely on you for the most technically demanding opportunities.
- You consistently drive successful POCs and technical evaluations.
- You identify risks and blockers early and resolve them effectively.
- Product and Engineering value the quality of your feedback.
- Other Presales Engineers learn from how you think and solve problems.
- Your involvement improves technical win rates, customer confidence, and deal outcomes.
- You become a go-to technical expert when the opportunity matters, and the answer is not immediately obvious.
- Location & Travel
- Role based in
EMEA .
- Willingness to travel rarely to support customers and regional priorities.
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!
Sr Presales Solution Engineer, EMEA in Belfast employer: Proofpoint
At Proofpoint, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our Benelux team is dedicated to employee growth, offering extensive training and development opportunities while working in a dynamic environment that values diversity and inclusion. With competitive benefits and a focus on meaningful work, joining us means becoming part of a mission-driven company committed to protecting organisations from advanced threats.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sr Presales Solution Engineer, EMEA in Belfast
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Proofpoint or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Proofpoint.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Proofpoint.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Proofpoint that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Sr Presales Solution Engineer, EMEA in Belfast
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Proofpoint.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Proofpoint and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Proofpoint
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Proofpoint uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
