Manager, Sales Engineering

Proofpoint; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible work environment

Global collaboration and networking

Job summary

Proofpoint is seeking an experienced Sales Engineering Manager to lead a fast-growing team focused on Enterprise opportunities in the South Eastern US. You will coach, mentor, and enable field sales engineers, while engaging with customers at all levels, including C-suite.

A strong cybersecurity background and prior leadership in sales engineering are essential. Locations spanning GA, TN, the Carolinas or Northern Florida are preferred, with a travel requirement of 25–75%.

Qualifications

• 2+ years leading sales engineering teams, ideally in cybersecurity
• 4–6 years of experience as a sales engineer
• Strong cybersecurity background: cloud security, network security, incident response
• Proven mentoring and developing team members to success
• Solid sales acumen to drive new customer sales and add-on revenue
• Lead-from-front style; hands-on technical in fast-paced environment
• Ability to communicate with C-suite and technical staff effectively
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in relevant field, or equivalent experience

Responsibilities

• Coach and empower a team of experienced Field Sales Engineers
• Set shared goals and establish mentoring relationships within the team
• Ramp new members on engagement rules, training, and self-sufficiency
• Develop team to achieve career goals, ideally at Proofpoint
• Lead escalations and resolve customer challenges
• Partner with Recruiting and HR to attract and retain top talent
• Be customer facing and participate in meetings with team members
• Attend ongoing technical training with the team
• Evangelize Proofpoint vision to customers at all levels, from technical to C-suite
• Engage with customers and help formulate strategies for target accounts
• Collaborate with Professional Services and Customer Success to ensure great experiences
• Stay current on security and risk platform features
• Travel 25–75% within the region

Skills

Sales engineering

Leadership

Cybersecurity

Mentoring

Customer facing

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

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.

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

• 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?

• 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].