Overview Proofpoint is seeking a Software Engineer with experience in web application development and a strong interest in working with and improving legacy systems. This role focuses on developing and maintaining a critical internal provisioning platform while contributing to its gradual modernization. You'll work closely with a collaborative, distributed team to build features, fix issues, and improve system performance, primarily within a Perl-based stack while gaining exposure to modern tools and frameworks. This is a great opportunity for an engineer who enjoys hands-on development, wants to deepen their expertise in Perl, and is interested in modernizing real-world production systems. What You'll Do • Develop and maintain features in a global provisioning platform used by thousands of users • Work primarily within a Perl-based web application (CGI, Template Toolkit, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, Linux) • Contribute to incremental modernization efforts, including building new UI components (React) and services • Collaborate with engineers, QA, and stakeholders to understand requirements and deliver solutions • Troubleshoot and resolve production issues as part of an on-call rotation (low incident volume) • Use AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Windsurf, Cursor, Claude Code) to improve productivity and code quality • Participate in code reviews and contribute to team best practices What You Bring (Required) • 2-5 years of professional software engineering experience • Experience developing web applications using: - Perl (or strong willingness to develop deep expertise) - HTML, CSS, JavaScript • Familiarity with Linux-based environments and web servers (e.g., Apache) • Basic understanding of relational databases (MySQL/MariaDB) • Experience working with RESTful APIs • Familiarity with version control systems (Git) and issue tracking tools (Jira) • Exposure to CI/CD concepts and tools (e.g., Jenkins) • Experience working in Agile development environments • Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to learn • Good communication skills and ability to work with distributed teams • Exposure to or willingness to adopt AI-assisted coding tools Nice to Have • Experience with Perl frameworks, CGI, or Template Toolkit • Experience with modern JavaScript frameworks (React) • Exposure to containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) • Experience working with legacy systems or modernization efforts • Familiarity with configuration management tools (Chef, Puppet) Role Characteristics • Primary focus: Enhancing and maintaining an existing Perl-based system • Modernization exposure: Contributing to new services and UI improvements • Ownership: Feature-level ownership with guidance from senior engineers • Team: Collaborative, distributed team of full-stack engineers and QA • On-call: Yes (low volume, shared rotation) Why This Role • Opportunity to build deep expertise in a production-critical system • Hands-on experience balancing legacy systems with modern technologies • Exposure to real-world modernization challenges • Collaborative team with mentorship and growth opportunities • Company-wide investment in AI-assisted development practices How to Apply Interested? 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: 136,200.00 - 214,005.00 USD California (excludes SF Bay Area), Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Washington DC Metro, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, Virginia, and Alaska: Base Pay Range: 112,700.00 - 177,100.00 USD All other cities and states excluding those listed above: Base Pay Range: 101,600.00 - 159,720.00 USD