Sr Presales Solution Engineer, EMEA

Reading, England

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Full time

R14982

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 .

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.