Account Executive

Sift; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sift is seeking an Account Executive to own complex sales cycles with engineering teams in San Francisco or Los Angeles. The ideal candidate will have 6-10+ years of B2B sales experience, particularly in technical products like SaaS or engineering software. Responsibilities include driving customer acquisition, managing forecasts, and collaborating cross-functionally. Compensation includes a base salary of $100,000 – $150,000 plus commission and benefits.

Qualifications

• 6–10+ years of experience in a quota-carrying B2B sales role.
• Experience selling technical or complex products.
• Strong curiosity and ability to learn complex technical concepts.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new opportunities with engineering-driven organizations.
• Lead discovery conversations to understand engineering challenges.
• Own opportunities from initial engagement through contract signature.
• Collaborate closely with Solutions Engineering and Product teams.

Skills

B2B sales experience

Technical product sales

Strong communication

Curiosity for technical concepts

Relationship building

Pipeline management

Job description

About Sift

Sift is the data infrastructure platform for hardware engineering teams. Sift turns high-frequency telemetry into engineering insights for mission-critical systems. Teams use Sift to build and operate rockets, satellites, autonomous vehicles, energy systems, defense platforms, and more. Founded by former SpaceX engineers who built the tools behind Dragon and Starlink, Sift is building the data infrastructure to herald the AI era for physical systems.

The Role

As an Account Executive at Sift, you will own complex, technical sales cycles with engineering teams building some of the most advanced systems in the world. You’ll work closely with Solutions Engineering, Product, and leadership to identify opportunities, guide customers through technical evaluations, and close deals that deliver measurable engineering impact. This is a high-impact role for someone who is excited to sell a deeply technical product, engage directly with engineers, and help shape the go-to-market motion at an early-stage, high-growth company.

Responsibilities

• Drive New Customer Acquisition – Identify and develop new opportunities with engineering-driven organizations across the United States, prospect into target accounts, build relationships, develop account strategies, and manage a pipeline of qualified opportunities.
• Run Technical Sales Cycles – Lead discovery conversations to understand system architecture, telemetry workflows, and engineering challenges; partner with Solutions Engineering and Product to guide technical evaluations and pilots; define success criteria and drive evaluations toward clear technical and business outcomes.
• Close High-Value Deals – Own opportunities from initial engagement through contract signature, align technical validation with commercial decision-making, navigate procurement, legal, and security processes, including enterprise and government-adjacent environments.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally – Work closely with Solutions Engineering, Product, and Customer Success, share insights from the field to refine product positioning and sales strategy.
• Help Build Sift’s US Go-To-Market Motion – Contribute to how we sell, who we target, and how we scale; provide feedback on messaging, ICP, and sales process; support hiring and onboarding as the team grows.
• Maintain Forecast Accuracy – Maintain disciplined pipeline management and forecasting; clearly communicate deal progress, risks, and next steps to leadership.

What You’ll Gain

• Experience selling a highly technical product to advanced engineering teams.
• Exposure to complex enterprise and technical sales cycles.
• Opportunity to help shape the go-to-market strategy for a fast-growing deep-tech company.
• Close mentorship from experienced enterprise sellers and technical leaders.
• Direct exposure to customers building cutting-edge systems across aerospace, defense, robotics, and industrial technology.

We’re Looking For Someone Who

• Has 6–10+ years of experience in a quota-carrying B2B sales role.
• Has experience selling technical or complex products (e.g., SaaS, developer tools, engineering software, or infrastructure platforms).
• Is comfortable engaging deeply with technical stakeholders such as engineers, architects, and technical leaders.
• Demonstrates strong curiosity and the ability to quickly learn complex technical concepts.
• Has a track record of meeting or exceeding revenue targets.
• Communicates clearly and confidently with both technical and executive audiences.
• Thrives in early-stage environments where processes are still evolving.
• Is highly motivated and willing to invest the effort required to succeed in complex enterprise sales.

Location

This role is based onsite in our LA or SF office Monday-Thursday, due to the collaborative and in-person nature of the role. Travel across the US is expected for customer meetings, industry events, and technical evaluations.

Compensation

Base salary: $100,000 – $150,000 USD, plus $100,000 – $150,000 USD commission, bonus, equity, and benefits.