Principal ML Engineer

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 looking for a Principal Backend Engineer to join our team and work on scalable, production-grade systems built with Go. You will contribute to the development of microservices that power core product features, while gaining hands-on experience with modern backend architectures. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building efficient systems, solving performance challenges, and working closely in real-world production environments.

Key Responsibilities:

- Design and implement features end to end

- Develop and maintain microservices using Golang

- Contribute to API design and service-to-service communication

- Debug and resolve issues across distributed systems

- Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code

- Collaborate with engineers across product and infrastructure teams

Required Qualifications:

- 10+ years of experience building scalable systems

- Strong Experience with Go

- Strong leadership and ownership experience

- Understanding of backend fundamentals (APIs, databases, concurrency, networking)

- Contribute to system design discussions and technical decisions

- Familiarity with microservices architecture or distributed systems concepts

- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail

- Proactive mindset and eagerness to learn in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Skills:

- Experience with REST APIs, or messaging systems

- Familiarity with Goroutine and asynchronous development techniques

- Familiarity with Docker or containerization Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)

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 accessibility@proofpoint.com.

How to Apply

Interested? Submit your application along with any supporting information- we can’t wait to hear from you!