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Founding Account Executive

clera · New York

Open. First seen 16 September 2026.

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Description

About the Role

This is a founding commercial role at an early-stage AI infrastructure startup, where you will build the sales engine from the ground up alongside the CEO in a true category-creation market. There is no incumbent playbook here: you will define how a new category gets sold, land the lighthouse customers that establish the company in the market, and shape the go-to-market system through your field experience.

What You'll Do

Generate pipeline from scratch through scrappy outbound, network-driven opportunities, and high-conviction account engagement. Engage architects, staff-level engineers, and platform teams early to understand architecture challenges, modernization goals, and organizational constraints. Multi-thread across technical champions, engineering leadership, and executive sponsors to build deal-wide alignment.

Partner with a Solutions Architect to translate technical validation and proof-of-value work into decision-grade artifacts. Convert technical proof into clear business narratives, including BVAs, ROI, velocity, and risk reduction, to move deals forward. Structure and drive proof-of-value engagements with clear success criteria and mutual action plans.

Partner closely with the CEO to secure executive alignment and drive deals to close. Feed high-fidelity market intelligence back into product, positioning, and go-to-market strategy.

What We're Looking For

6 to 10 years of enterprise SaaS sales experience with full-cycle ownership, from pipeline generation through closing. Demonstrated success generating pipeline and closing net-new business in emerging or category-creation markets. Experience selling infrastructure, cloud, AI/ML, DevTools, data platforms, or other architecture-level technology to technical buyers.

Proven ability to navigate multi-stakeholder enterprise buying processes involving technical champions, CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and platform leadership. Credibility to engage confidently with architects, principal engineers, and engineering leadership. Experience operating in early-stage or founder-led environments where GTM systems and sales playbooks were still being defined.

Consultative and diagnostic mindset: you frame situations before pitching and bring structure to ambiguous problems. Experience converting product-led usage and intent signals into structured enterprise sales processes. High grit and comfort operating in 0 to 1 environments with undefined processes and real ambiguity.

Exposure to modern cloud-native ecosystems, including hyperscalers, data platforms, developer infrastructure, or AI platforms, is a plus. Location Fully remote. Primary location is New York, NY, United States.

Visa sponsorship is not available; candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a founding commercial role at an early-stage AI infrastructure startup, where you will build the sales engine from the ground up alongside the CEO in a true category-creation market. There is no incumbent playbook here: you will define how a new category gets sold, land the lighthouse customers that establish the company in the market, and shape the go-to-market system through your field experience.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Generate pipeline from scratch through scrappy outbound, network-driven opportunities, and high-conviction account engagement.
  • Engage architects, staff-level engineers, and platform teams early to understand architecture challenges, modernization goals, and organizational constraints.
  • Multi-thread across technical champions, engineering leadership, and executive sponsors to build deal-wide alignment.
  • Partner with a Solutions Architect to translate technical validation and proof-of-value work into decision-grade artifacts.
  • Convert technical proof into clear business narratives, including BVAs, ROI, velocity, and risk reduction, to move deals forward.
  • Structure and drive proof-of-value engagements with clear success criteria and mutual action plans.
  • Partner closely with the CEO to secure executive alignment and drive deals to close.
  • Feed high-fidelity market intelligence back into product, positioning, and go-to-market strategy.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

- 6 to 10 years of enterprise SaaS sales experience with full-cycle ownership, from pipeline generation through closing.

  • Demonstrated success generating pipeline and closing net-new business in emerging or category-creation markets.
  • Experience selling infrastructure, cloud, AI/ML, DevTools, data platforms, or other architecture-level technology to technical buyers.
  • Proven ability to navigate multi-stakeholder enterprise buying processes involving technical champions, CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and platform leadership.
  • Credibility to engage confidently with architects, principal engineers, and engineering leadership.
  • Experience operating in early-stage or founder-led environments where GTM systems and sales playbooks were still being defined.
  • Consultative and diagnostic mindset: you frame situations before pitching and bring structure to ambiguous problems.
  • Experience converting product-led usage and intent signals into structured enterprise sales processes.
  • High grit and comfort operating in 0 to 1 environments with undefined processes and real ambiguity.
  • Exposure to modern cloud-native ecosystems, including hyperscalers, data platforms, developer infrastructure, or AI platforms, is a plus. LOCATION Fully remote. Primary location is New York, NY, United States. Visa sponsorship is not available; candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

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