Proofpoint SME

Proofpoint SME £400 - £450 per day (Inside IR35) Wokingham OR Warwick (3-5 days onsite per week) ASAP Start 6-Month Initial Contract We're currently seeking an experienced Proofpoint SME to join a major enterprise programme, taking ownership of a critical email security environment and leading the ongoing optimisation of Proofpoint security technologies. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly skilled cyber security professional with deep expertise in email security, threat protection, DLP, and email authentication technologies to play a key role in defending against advanced threats including phishing, malware, and email fraud. The Role As the lead Proofpoint specialist, you will be responsible for the design, implementation, administration, and enhancement of enterprise-scale Proofpoint solutions. Working closely with Security Operations, Infrastructure, and Microsoft 365 teams, you will ensure the organisation maintains a strong and resilient email security posture. Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary SME for the Proofpoint platform and associated email security technologies.
• Design, deploy, configure, and maintain: Proofpoint Email Protection (PEP), Proofpoint Targeted Attack Protection (TAP), Proofpoint Threat Response Auto-Pull (TRAP), Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense (EFD), Proofpoint Information Protection / DLP
• Manage email security policies, threat detection rules, malware protection, and spam filtering.
• Monitor, investigate, and respond to email-based security incidents.
• Configure and maintain SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication controls.
• Conduct threat analysis and provide recommendations to strengthen security controls.
• Perform health checks, troubleshooting, upgrades, and platform optimisation activities.
• Collaborate with SOC, Security Operations, Infrastructure, and Microsoft 365 teams.
• Produce technical documentation, operational procedures, and knowledge articles.
• Support security reviews, audits, and compliance activities.
• Provide L3/L4 support and mentor junior engineers where required. Essential Skills & Experience
• 8+ years' experience within Cyber Security, Messaging Security, or Enterprise Security Administration.
• 4+ years' hands-on experience administering and supporting Proofpoint solutions.
• Strong expertise in: Email Security, Anti-Phishing Technologies, Email Gateway Security, Threat Intelligence, Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
• Experience with: Microsoft 365 / Exchange Online, Exchange Server, SMTP Routing, Mail Flow Architecture
• Strong knowledge of SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and email fraud prevention.
• Proven experience investigating and remediating security incidents.
• Solid understanding of malware analysis and advanced email-borne threats.
• Experience working with SIEM solutions such as Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, or QRadar.
• PowerShell and/or Python automation experience is advantageous.
• Active SC clearance or eligible for SC clearance.
• Experience supporting Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), Utilities, Government, or other highly regulated environments would be advantageous.