Sr. Data Architect, Large Scale Distributed Systems

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 innovateResponsive to feedback, challenges and opportunitiesAccountable for results and best in class outcomesVisionary in future focused problem-solvingExceptional in execution and impactRole OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Senior Architect to lead the design and evolution of enterprise-scale distributed systems supporting 50M+ connected sensors and high-volume event processing pipelines.This role is critical to building and operating mission-critical backend platforms that process millions of events per second across both synchronous and asynchronous architectures, with stringent requirements for scalability, reliability, security, and performance.The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of architecting and scaling production-grade systems at extreme scale, along with the ability to drive technical strategy, governance, and cross-functional alignment in a complex enterprise environment.Key ResponsibilitiesArchitecture & System DesignDefine and lead the architecture of large-scale distributed systems capable of ingesting and processing high-velocity data streams from 50M+ sensorsDesign resilient systems across synchronous (API-driven) and asynchronous (event-driven, streaming) paradigmsEstablish architectural standards for scalability, fault tolerance, and performance optimizationData Platform EngineeringArchitect real-time and batch data pipelines for high-throughput ingestion, transformation, and storageDrive design decisions across streaming, processing, and storage layers to ensure optimal performance and cost efficiencyEnable support for time-series, event-driven, and analytical workloadsTechnology Strategy & GovernanceDefine and enforce enterprise architecture principles, standards, and best practicesEvaluate and guide adoption of modern data technologies, including:Distributed messaging systems (e.g., Kafka, Pulsar)Scalable data stores (e.g., Cassandra, DynamoDB, Bigtable, ClickHouse, Elasticsearch)Stream and batch processing frameworks (e.g., Flink, Spark, Beam)Ensure alignment with security, compliance, and data governance requirementsScalability, Reliability & ObservabilityEstablish and operationalize SLAs, SLOs, and error budgetsDesign for high availability, multi-region resilience, and disaster recoveryImplement enterprise-grade observability frameworks (monitoring, logging, tracing)Leadership & CollaborationPartner with engineering, product, security, and data teams to align architecture with organizational objectivesProvide technical leadership, mentorship, and architectural oversight across multiple teamsLead design reviews and ensure adherence to architectural standardsRequired QualificationsExperience10+ years of experience in distributed systems and backend architectureDemonstrated success in scaling systems to:50M+ connected devices/sensors, orComparable high-scale environments (e.g., IoT, telecom, fintech, ad-tech, infrastructure platforms)Proven experience with high-throughput event-driven architectures in production environmentsTechnical ExpertiseDeep understanding of distributed systems concepts, including:CAP theorem, consistency models, and trade-offsPartitioning, replication, and sharding strategiesEvent delivery semantics (at-least-once, exactly-once, idempotency)Strong experience with:Streaming and messaging systems (Kafka, Pulsar, or equivalent)Real-time and batch processing frameworksScalable NoSQL and analytical data storesSystem Design & EngineeringExpertise in designing:Low-latency, high-throughput APIsEvent-driven and asynchronous processing systemsMulti-region, highly available architecturesStrong programming proficiency in one or more of: Go, Java, Scala, or RustPreferred QualificationsExperience with large-scale IoT or telemetry platformsFamiliarity with edge-to-cloud architecturesExperience operating in multi-cloud or hybrid environmentsKnowledge of enterprise security frameworks, data governance, and compliance (e.g., SOC2, ISO, GDPR)Exposure to AI/ML data pipelines and large-scale analytics platformsSuccess MetricsArchitecture supports billions of daily events with consistent performance and reliabilitySystems demonstrate horizontal scalability and fault isolationClear separation and optimization of real-time vs batch workloadsStrong adherence to enterprise architecture and governance standardsWhy 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 compensationComprehensive benefitsCareer success on your termsFlexible work environmentAnnual wellness and community outreach daysAlways on recognition for your contributionsGlobal collaboration and networking opportunitiesOur 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 View email address on click.appcast.io to ApplyInterested? Submit your application along with any supporting information- we can’t wait to hear from you!Consistent with Proofpoint values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets as set out below. Pay within these ranges varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. The range provided may represent a candidate range and may not reflect the full range for an individual tenured employee. This role may be eligible for variable compensation and/or equity. We offer a competitive benefits package, including flexible time off, a comprehensive well-being program with two paid Wellbeing Days and two paid Volunteer Days per year, plus a three-week Work from Anywhere option.Base Pay Ranges:SF Bay Area, New York City Metro Area:Base Pay Range: 254,000.00 - 349,250.00 USDCalifornia (excludes SF Bay Area), Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Washington DC Metro, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, Virginia, and Alaska:Base Pay Range: 208,800.00 - 287,100.00 USDAll other cities and states excluding those listed above:Base Pay Range: 187,000.00 - 257,180.00 USDSummaryLocation: Sunnyvale, CA; Athens, Greece - Remote; IndiaType: Full time