EBPF Principal Developer

Proofpoint; India; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible work environment

Global collaboration opportunities

Job summary

Proofpoint is seeking a Principal eBPF Developer to join our engineering team in India. You will lead eBPF development, contribute to observability, networking, and security capabilities, and provide technical leadership across kernel-space and user-space integrations.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years of Linux systems programming experience, deep eBPF expertise, and strong C/C++. You’ll collaborate with platform, infrastructure, and security teams to design scalable data-collection architectures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/Engineering with strong Linux background.
• 6+ years of software engineering experience in Linux/kernel-space work.
• Deep expertise in eBPF writing, debugging, and optimization.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize eBPF programs for networking, observability, and security.
• Lead technical discussions and guide best practices in eBPF development.
• Collaborate on kernel instrumentation, tracing, and performance monitoring.

Skills

eBPF

Linux systems

C/C++

Kernel internals

Networking

Performance tuning

Go/Python/Rust

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

BCC

libbpf

bpftrace

Kernel debugging tools

Job description

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.

About the role:

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal eBPF Developer to join and support an established engineering team. This role is ideal for an expert in eBPF and Linux systems programming who can contribute immediately, provide technical leadership, and help drive advanced observability, networking, and security capabilities.

Key Responsibilities - eBPF Development

• Design, develop, and optimize eBPF programs for networking, observability, and/or security use cases
• Guide best practices in eBPF development and Linux systems programming
• Work with kernel‑level instrumentation, tracing, and performance monitoring
• Ensure efficiency, safety, and scalability of eBPF‑based solutions
• Act as a senior technical contributor within an existing team
• Collaborate on the design of systems leveraging eBPF for deep visibility and control
• Help define architecture for data collection, processing, and integration with user‑space components

Collaboration

• Work closely with platform, infrastructure, and security teams
• Assist in troubleshooting complex system‑level issues
• Contribute to cross‑functional initiatives and technical discussions

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• 6+ years of software engineering experience, with strong Linux systems background
• Deep expertise in eBPF, including writing, debugging, and optimizing programs
• Strong knowledge of Linux kernel internals, networking stack, and performance tuning
• Proficiency in C/C++ (for kernel‑side work) and familiarity with user‑space integrations
• Experience with tools such as BCC, libbpf, bpftrace, or similar frameworks

Preferred Skills

• Experience with observability platforms, tracing systems, or security monitoring tools
• Familiarity with container environments (Docker, Kubernetes) and cloud‑native architectures
• Experience integrating eBPF with Go, Rust, or Python‑based systems
• Background in high‑performance or distributed systems

Why Proofpoint?

• 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.

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:

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. 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.