Account Executive, API

Perplexity; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Perplexity is seeking a self-starting, technically fluent Account Executive to own new business for the Perplexity API platform on the Enterprise team. Sell frontier AI dev tools to large enterprises, drive revenue, and shape the product roadmap through strong customer engagement.

You will conduct demos, manage RFPs, build executive relationships, and collaborate with Product/Engineering to align solutions with client needs.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of full-cycle SaaS sales with enterprise clients.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding revenue targets.
• Able to articulate value to both technical and business buyers.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business by prospecting, pitching, and closing Perplexity API platform solutions with large organizations.
• Research prospects, develop account strategies, and execute outreach campaigns tailored to company and industry needs.
• Conduct high-impact product demonstrations and respond to RFPs and technical inquiries.
• Lead client engagement through the entire sales cycle—from initial presentation to closing and onboarding.
• Build and nurture senior-level relationships across enterprise clients, championing Perplexity's value proposition.
• Partner with Product, DevRel, and Engineering to ensure customer success and feedback into the roadmap.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Perplexity's platform, industry trends, and competitors.
• Meet or exceed monthly and quarterly revenue targets; maintain accurate CRM records.

Skills

Self-starter

Technically fluent

Enterprise sales

CRM experience

Excellent communicator

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Perplexity is seeking a self-starting, technically fluent Account Executive to join our small but mighty Enterprise team and own new business for the Perplexity API platform — the frontier AI developer tools (Search, Sonar, and Agent APIs) that power real-time, grounded answer engines. This is a rare seat. You'll get to sell — and help shape — frontier AI dev tools, with a front-row seat into how the most ambitious AI-native product companies think about frontier AI infrastructure. Your job is to evangelize that platform with large enterprises and turn it into durable revenue. This role is ideal for proactive sales professionals who thrive at the intersection of technology and business, can operate in ambiguity, and want to shape the future of enterprise AI.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business by prospecting, pitching, and closing Perplexity API platform solutions with large organizations
• Research prospects, develop account strategies, and execute outreach campaigns tailored to company and industry needs
• Conduct high-impact product demonstrations and respond to RFPs and technical inquiries
• Lead client engagement through the entire sales cycle — from initial presentation, technical evaluation, negotiation, to closing and onboarding
• Build and nurture senior-level relationships across enterprise clients, championing Perplexity''s value proposition and customer outcomes
• Partner closely with Product, DevRel, and Engineering to ensure customer success, solution fit, and a feedback loop into the roadmap
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Perplexity''s platform, industry trends, and competitor landscape
• Meet or exceed individual and team revenue targets on a monthly and quarterly basis
• Maintain accurate records of pipeline and account activity using CRM tools

What we\'re looking for

• A self-starter who can operate in ambiguity and knock down walls to get deals done
• Technically fluent — comfortable speaking credibly with developers and technical buyers
• 3+ years of full-cycle SaaS sales experience, ideally with enterprise-level clients
• Proven record of meeting or exceeding revenue targets in a high-growth environment
• Skilled at complex sales cycles, tailoring messaging to different buyer personas and decision makers
• Proven success outbound prospecting to large enterprise
• Exceptional written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to C-suite executives
• Adept at identifying client pain points and mapping solutions that drive business value
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and technical stakeholders
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce)
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Nice to have

• Experience working with APIs or developer platforms
• A computer science or technical background
• Familiarity with the AI / LLM / agent ecosystem

Compensation Range: $200K - $400K