Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to design and maintain scalable systems for a leading cybersecurity platform.
- Company: Proofpoint is a top cybersecurity firm protecting organisations from digital threats.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, wellness days, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team that values innovation and collaboration in cybersecurity.
- Qualifications: Experience in software engineering, especially with Java, distributed systems, and cloud technologies required.
- Other info: We celebrate diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Social network you want to login/join with:
Staff Software Engineer (Java, Kafka, AWS), Belfast
col-narrow-left
Client:
Proofpoint
Location:
Belfast, United Kingdom
Job Category:
Other
–
EU work permit required:
Yes
col-narrow-right
Job Reference:
2833f6f6e842
Job Views:
9
Posted:
12.08.2025
Expiry Date:
26.09.2025
col-wide
Job Description:
About Us:
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.
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. Proofpoint.
The Role
We are looking for a highly experienced Staff Software Engineer to join our Platform Engineering team. This role is focused on building and scaling the foundational infrastructure and services that power our internal engineering ecosystem.
As a senior individual contributor, you’ll be instrumental in designing, developing, and maintaining petabyte-scale production platforms with a strong emphasis on resilience, performance, and developer experience. You\’ll work on distributed systems, deployment infrastructure, and internal service frameworks, enabling teams across the organization to deliver with speed, security, and reliability.
Your day-to-day
• Architect, build, and maintain scalable, fault-tolerant systems that support petabyte-scale workloads in production
• Lead development of RESTful APIs using Java or similar high-performance languages (e.g., Go, Kotlin, Scala)
• Contribute to the evolution of our internal platform by improving core infrastructure components and abstractions
• Design and optimize data pipelines and backend systems leveraging distributed technologies like Apache Kafka and Cassandra
• Drive platform modernization through Kubernetes-based deployments and configuration management using tools like Puppe
• Champion best practices in CI/CD, observability, security, and cloud-native architecture
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to understand their needs and deliver reusable, scalable solutions
• Mentor other engineers, review design documents and code, and provide leadership in solving complex technical challenges
• Own the operational health of platform services, including reliability, uptime, and on-call rotations.
What you bring to the team
• Extensive experience in software engineering, with significant time spent on infrastructure or platform teams
• Proven track record of designing and operating petabyte-scale systems in production environments
• Deep experience with Java and working knowledge of other programming languages such as Python, Go or Scala
• Strong understanding and hands-on experience with RESTful service design and implementation
• Solid background in distributed systems and experience with technologies like Kafka, Cassandra, or equivalents
• Proficiency with Kubernetes (K8s), Terraform and Puppet, or similar deployment and configuration management tools
• Familiarity with AWS, Azure (preferred) or other public cloud ecosystems; understanding of cloud-native patterns and cost-aware design
• Experience with system monitoring, logging, and alerting tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK)
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to influence at multiple levels.
Nice to Have
• Experience building internal developer platforms or platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offerings
• Contributions to open-source tools and frameworks in the infrastructure or backend ecosystem. * Exposure to security best practices and compliance considerations in large-scale environments
Why Proofpoint
Protecting people is at the heart of our award-winning lineup of cybersecurity solutions, and the people who work here are the key to our success. We’re a customer-focused and a driven-to-win organization with leading-edge products. We are an inclusive, diverse, multinational company that believes in culture fit, but more importantly ‘culture-add’, and we strongly encourage people from all walks of life to apply.
We believe in hiring the best and the brightest to help cultivate our culture of collaboration and appreciation. Apply today and explore your future at Proofpoint! #LifeAtProofpoint
#LI-CB1
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:
• Learning & Development: We are committed to the growth and development of our team members, offering a range of programs including leadership and professional development workshops, stretch project assignments, and mentoring opportunities to help employees reach their full potential.
• Flexible work environment: [Remote options, hybrid schedules, flexible hours, etc.].
• 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 . How to Apply Interested? Submit your application here . We can’t wait to hear from you!
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Staff Software Engineer (Java, Kafka, AWS) employer: Proofpoint
Contact Detail:
Proofpoint Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Software Engineer (Java, Kafka, AWS)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Proofpoint's core values: Bold, Responsive, Accountable, Visionary, and Exceptional. During your interactions, whether in interviews or networking, demonstrate how your experiences align with these values to show that you are a good cultural fit.
✨Tip Number 2
Engage with the tech community around Java, Kafka, and AWS. Join relevant forums, attend meetups, or participate in online discussions. This not only helps you stay updated on industry trends but also allows you to network with potential colleagues or mentors at Proofpoint.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience with petabyte-scale systems by discussing specific projects you've worked on. Be prepared to explain the challenges you faced and how you overcame them, as this will highlight your problem-solving skills and technical expertise.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your approach to mentoring and collaboration. Proofpoint values teamwork, so be ready to share examples of how you've supported other engineers in their development and contributed to a positive team environment.
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Software Engineer (Java, Kafka, AWS)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in software engineering, particularly with Java, Kafka, and AWS. Use specific examples of projects where you've designed or maintained scalable systems.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for cybersecurity and how your skills align with Proofpoint's mission. Mention your experience with distributed systems and your approach to problem-solving.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Include a section in your application that details your technical proficiencies, especially in RESTful service design, Kubernetes, and cloud-native architecture. Be specific about the tools and technologies you have used.
Highlight Collaboration and Leadership: Since the role involves mentoring and collaboration, provide examples of how you've worked with teams in the past. Discuss any leadership roles you've taken on and how you've influenced project outcomes.
How to prepare for a job interview at Proofpoint
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, take some time to research Proofpoint's core values and culture. Familiarise yourself with their BRAVE values and think about how your own experiences align with these principles. This will help you demonstrate that you're a good fit for their team.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with Java, Kafka, and AWS in detail. Bring examples of projects you've worked on that highlight your ability to design and maintain scalable systems. Consider preparing a brief presentation or code samples to illustrate your expertise.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect to face technical challenges during the interview. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and be ready to walk through your thought process when tackling complex issues. Practice common algorithms and system design questions relevant to distributed systems.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, take the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions about the team, projects, and company direction. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if Proofpoint is the right fit for you.
