Backend Engineer

About the role

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 Proofpoint is looking for a skilled and curious Backend Software Engineer to join our Account Takeover Protection product team. On this team you will help mitigate account takeover attacks on our customers for cloud applications like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and more. You'll own backend projects with moderate to high complexity, designing distributed systems that protect Fortune 500 customers. You'll consistently produce high-quality, maintainable code while proactively addressing technical debt and advocating for best practices. This role requires strong technical expertise in distributed systems, the ability to work independently on complex tasks, and the influence to shape team decisions through thoughtful contributions. You'll design solutions with scalability, reliability, and maintainability in mind while working closely with product and QA teams to translate customer needs into technical deliverables that meet or exceed expectations. Your day-to-day * Own and design features spanning multiple backend components in a distributed reactive messaging-based system * Consistently produce high-quality, maintainable code in Java and Scala while proactively addressing technical debt * Build and architect solutions using streaming frameworks like Kafka and Akka Stream, working with AWS services such as OpenSearch and DynamoDB * Lead code reviews and team retrospectives, providing actionable feedback and modeling a growth mindset * Collaborate across functions with QA and product teams to monitor and support critical production systems used by clients worldwide * Identify system interdependencies and proactively mitigate risks, keeping stakeholders informed of progress and blockers * Champion incremental improvements to technical implementations, team workflows, and cloud deployment processes * Work independently on complex problems while seeking guidance for strategic decisions, demonstrating strong prioritization with minimal oversight What you bring to the team * Deep knowledge in Computer Science and Engineering with strong understanding of distributed systems and technologies * At least 5 years of hands-on software development experience, with proven ability to own complex projects and consistently deliver within deadlines * Track record in full product lifecycle, from design to production, building 24/7 SaaS systems with high uptime requirements * Demonstrated ability to influence team decisions through technical expertise and thoughtful contributions * Expertise with Scala/Java and running JVM-based systems in production environments * Experience building scalable, reliable, and resilient distributed systems that align with technical and business goals * Experience with streaming frameworks (Kafka, Akka Stream, or similar) - highly valued * Track record of advocating for best practices in design and implementation while addressing technical debt * Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS) and deployment automation * Excellent communication skills (both oral and written) in English, able to simplify complex technical ideas for team members and stakeholders * An academic degree in a relevant technical field or equivalent experience Why Proofpoint As a customer focused and driven-to-win organization with leading edge products, there are many exciting reasons to join the Proofpoint team. We believe in hiring the best the brightest and cultivating a culture of collaboration and appreciation. As we continue to grow and expand globally, we understand that hiring the right people and developing great teams is key to our success! We are a multi-national company with locations in many countries, with each location contributing to Proofpoint's amazing culture! 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 da