Manager, Sales Engineering

Proofpoint; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible work environment

Wellness and outreach days

Recognition for contributions

Job summary

Proofpoint is seeking an experienced Sales Engineering Manager to lead a fast-growing team focused on Enterprise opportunities in the Southeast US. You’ll coach, enable and empower seasoned Field Sales Engineers, guiding them through complex customer engagements and high-stakes deals.

You’ll mentor team members, align with AMs, and drive career growth while maintaining a hands-on technical presence. The role travels 25-75% and requires a strong cybersecurity background and leadership ability.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience leading sales engineering teams in cybersecurity.
• 4-6 years of experience as a sales engineer.
• Strong technical background in cybersecurity (cloud security, network security, incident response, messaging).
• Proven mentoring ability and ability to drive new customer sales and add-on revenue.

Responsibilities

• Coach and empower a team of field sales engineers.
• Ramp new team members with training and mentoring.
• Develop and mentor the team to achieve career goals at Proofpoint.
• Active part of escalations and resolving customer challenges.
• Partner with Recruiting and HR to attract, hire and retain top talent.
• Be customer facing and attend meetings with team.
• Participate in ongoing technical training and evangelize Proofpoint vision.
• Engage with customers and help formulate strategies for target accounts.
• Partner with Professional Services and Customer Success to maintain outstanding customer experience.
• Become a student of our security and risk platform.

Skills

Sales engineering leadership

Cybersecurity knowledge

Mentoring

Customer engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in relevant field

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

The Role and the Team

Proofpoint is looking for an experienced Sales Engineering Manager (SEM) to lead a fast growing team of sales engineers focused on Enterprise opportunities in the South Eastern US. Our SEMs lead from the front, are customer facing, are hands on technical, and focused on enabling and empowering their teams to be successful. Candidates should have experience managing sales engineering teams, prior experience as a sales engineer, and a track record of being involved in complex customer deals. We prefer a background in cyber-security, cloud security, or risk & governance. Candidates for this role should be located in Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas or Northern Florida.

You will coach, enable and empower a team of experienced Field Sales Engineers:

• Strengthen the team by setting shared goals, information sharing, and establishing mentoring relationships
• Ramp newer members of the team on rules of engagement, building a relationship with their AMs, technical training, and showing them how to become self-sufficient
• Develop and mentor your team to help them achieve their career goals, ideally here at Proofpoint
• Active part of escalations and resolving customer challenges
• Partner with Recruiting and HR to attract, hire and retain top talent to support our rapid growth
• Be customer facing! Frequently attend meetings with members of your team!
• Participate in the ongoing technical training alongside your team
• Evangelize the Proofpoint vision to customers and prospects at all levels, from technical to C-suite.
• Put your individual contributor hat on when needed, engage with customers, and help formulate strategies for target accounts
• Partner with other groups such as Professional Services and Customer Success to help us continue our tradition of an outstanding customer experience and industry leading customer retention
• Become a student of our security and risk platform

The role will require travel between 25-75% within the region.

Job Requirements:

• Minimum 2+ years of experience leading sales engineering teams, ideally in the cyber-security industry
• Previous experience as a sales engineer, preferred 4-6 years of experience
• Strong, related technical background in cyber-security such as cloud security, network security, incident response, messaging or related field
• Proven track record of mentoring and developing team members and guiding them to success
• Solid sales acumen, and ability to partner with account teams to drive new customer sales as well as add-on revenue.
• Lead from the front style, and ability to roll up your sleeves and get technical
• You can thrive in a fast paced, high energy environment
• Ability to work independently, adapt quickly and maintain a positive attitude
• Proven ability to command a room, lead complex technical and business conversations with C-suite executives, as well as technical staff
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in relevant field, or equivalent experience

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 [e-mail].

Accessibility and Inclusion Statement

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.

Employee Recognition and Awards

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.

Mission Statement

We’re 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.

Values and Vision

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.

Professional Growth and Development

That’s why we believe that we get to the standard part. We are 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.