Account Executive

Proton; Genf, Zürich; Remote; CHF 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Flexible working hours

Health insurance

Lunch and snacks provided

Transport cost support

Learning & development opportunities

Competitive retirement plans

Job summary

Proton is seeking an Account Executive to drive new B2B business in Switzerland. You will own the full sales cycle, from identifying opportunities to negotiating and closing deals, and you will build relationships with senior decision-makers to advance Proton in the Swiss market.

You will leverage an existing Swiss network, develop partners across industry and public sector, and work cross-functionally to expand Proton’s presence while upholding our privacy-first mission.

Qualifications

• 3–7 years in Account Executive, B2B or Strategic Sales with full-cycle ownership.
• Proven experience selling in the Swiss market.
• Experience in B2B SaaS or technology environments.
• Proven track record of generating pipeline and closing deals.
• Strong network within Swiss companies and/or public-sector ecosystems (highly preferred).
• Fluent in Swiss German and English (French a plus).

Responsibilities

• Own the full sales cycle from discovery to close.
• Identify and qualify opportunities and run discovery with key stakeholders.
• Negotiate and close deals and develop strategic partnerships.
• Build and manage a pipeline of high-quality opportunities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales leadership and other teams.

Skills

Relationship building

Negotiation

Pipeline development

Strategic thinking

Swiss market experience

Hunter mindset

English fluency

Job description

Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default

At Proton, we believe that privacy is a fundamental human right and the cornerstone of democracy. Since our inception in 2014, founded by a team of scientists from CERN, we have dedicated ourselves to providing free and open-source technology to millions worldwide, ensuring access to privacy, security, and freedom online.

Our journey began with Proton Mail, the largest secure email service globally, and has since expanded to include Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass. These tools empower individuals and organizations to take control of their personal data, break away from Big Tech’s invasive practices, and defeat censorship. Our work impacts hundreds of millions of lives, from activists on the front lines defending freedom to leaders in governments protecting sensitive information. In some cases, Proton’s services have even been instrumental in saving lives by enabling secure and private communications in high-risk situations.

Proton today supports over 100 million user accounts with a growing team of over 500 people from over 50 different countries, from the world's top companies and universities. We value intelligence, learning potential, and ambition in our hiring process. Adaptability is key as we navigate uncharted territories and redefine how business is conducted online. We believe smaller teams of exceptional talent will always prevail over larger teams with lower talent density. Proton has become profitable and reached scale without relying upon VC funding, largely due to superior talent that allows us to do things faster, more creatively, and more efficiently.

We have a global mindset and big ambitions but remain a start-up at heart. We value empowerment and flexibility and keep our structure flat to keep moving fast and avoid unnecessary politics. Tired of blending into the crowd? Join us and do work you can truly be proud of. Check oursocial media pagesto learn more about us: Twitter , Reddit , Instagram .

Role Overview

We are looking for an Account Executive to drive new B2B business for Proton in Switzerland. You will own the full sales cycle, from identifying and qualifying opportunities to negotiating and closing deals. You will build relationships with senior decision-makers, develop strategic partnerships across the Swiss business and public-sector ecosystems, and help grow Proton's presence in its home market.

What You’ll Do

Pipeline Creation & Strategic Opportunity Development

• Identify and develop new strategic opportunities across target segments
• Build and manage your own pipeline of high-quality opportunities
• Balance long-term opportunity creation with closing deals

Strategic Partnerships

• Identify, engage, and develop partnerships with corporates, industry bodies, service providers and ecosystem partners (including co-selling opportunities)

Market Development (Switzerland Focus)

• Leverage your existing network within Swiss corporates and organizations
• Expand Proton's presence within local business and public-sector ecosystems
• Identify high-value entry points into target companies

Relationship Building

• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders (IT, security, leadership)
• Act as a trusted advisor and entry point into organizations
• Navigate complex organizational structures to identify opportunities

Full Sales Cycle Ownership

• Own the full sales cycle, from first contact to signed contract
• Identify and qualify opportunities
• Run discovery to understand use case, stakeholders and potential deal scope
• Negotiate and close deals

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Sales leadership to align on target segments
• Provide feedback on market opportunities and ICP evolution
• Share insights from partnerships and market interactions

What We’re Looking For

Experience

• 3–7 years in Account Executive, Business Development or Strategic Sales roles, owning the full sales cycle
• Proven experience selling in the Swiss market (required)
• Experience in B2B SaaS or technology environments
• Proven track record of generating pipeline and closing deals

Network

• Strong existing network within Swiss companies and/or public-sector ecosystems (highly preferred)
• Appetite to develop and grow a network of Swiss customers

Skills

• Strong relationship-building and networking capabilities
• Ability to identify and develop strategic opportunities
• Strong negotiation and closing skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Comfortable operating without a structured playbook

Languages

• Fluent in Swiss German and English (required)
• French is a strong plus

Mindset

• Hunter mindset focused on opportunity creation and closing
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial instincts
• Proactive, self-driven, and comfortable operating in ambiguity

Location

• Geneva, Zurich or remotely within Switzerland.

What we offer

• Technology:We provide all the devices and software you need to excel in your role, ensuring you have the best tools at your disposal to achieve your goals.
• Food:Lunch and snacks are provided by Proton every day at our offices.
• Transport:We will always support our employees with transport costs through subsidizing public transport, bike allowances, or parking spaces based on your office location.
• Stock Options:At Proton, we are all owners of the company and you get stock options when you join us.
• Flexible Working:You can define your own working hours as long as it works with team meetings.
• Learning and Development:We are committed to your professional growth. Proton offers various learning opportunities, including training programs, conferences and events, and continual learning.
• Employee Benefits:Comprehensive health insurance plans, competitive retirement savings options, generous vacation and leave policies, and wellness programs.
• Work that Matters:Proton is a community-first organization, started with the support of a crowdfunding campaign and built with community input. To this day, Proton’s only source of revenue is user subscriptions. Over 100 million people trust and support Proton, and we put our users and community first in everything we do. Read more about our impact here .

Check our social media to learn more about Proton:

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Proton, we believe diversity drives innovation and strengthens our mission to provide privacy as a default for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, or socio-economic background, feel valued and empowered. We strive to create equal opportunities, promote open dialogue, and support continuous learning to ensure every voice is heard and respected.

If you need any extra support or reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, please let your talent partner know.

Candidate Privacy Notice

When you apply for a position, refer a candidate, or are considered for a role at Proton Technologies AG (Proton, we, us, or our), your information is stored in Greenhouse, in accordance with their Service Privacy Policy. This information is used to evaluate your suitability for the posted position. We also retain this information for consideration for future roles that you may apply for or that we believe may align with your background and skills.

If we no longer have a legitimate business need to process your information, we will either delete or anonymize it. Should you have any inquiries about how we use or manage your information, or if you wish to access, correct, or delete your data, please contact our privacy team at [e-mail].

Proton does not accept unsolicited resumes from any sources other than directly from candidates. We will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from an unsolicited offer, even if the candidate is subsequently hired by Proton.