AI Sales Specialist

Fortinet, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 220,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

401(k)

11 paid holidays

Vacation time

Sick time

Comprehensive leave program

Job summary

Fortinet is seeking an AI Sales Specialist to lead GTM strategy and drive adoption of AI Security solutions across regional markets. You will work with regional sales, account managers, and partners to build pipeline, close 6- and 7-figure ACV deals, and engage C-level executives.

You will design regional training, lead executive demonstrations, and advocate secure AI deployment, governance, and ROI for customers. Travel up to 50% is expected.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of quota-carrying technical sales experience, including at least 3 years specializing in AI and related technologies.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding quota and closing multi-stakeholder, 6- and 7-figure ACV deals.
• Experience engaging with C-level executives (CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, VPs of Engineering, Heads of AI).
• Understanding of core AI technologies (ML, DL, generative AI).
• Experience in regulated/data-sensitive industries (financial services, healthcare, semiconductors).
• Familiarity with popular agentic AI tools and their security implications.
• Exemplary written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Ability to travel up to 50% to develop relationships and opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Shape and execute GTM strategy for AI Security across your region, expanding existing Fortinet customers and driving new acquisitions.
• Collaborate with account managers and partners to build pipeline, qualify and close AI Security deals.
• Lead customer-facing activities including executive presentations, workshops, and live demos.
• Design and deliver regional training for account managers on product features, differentiators, use cases, and business outcomes.
• Consult with enterprise clients to evaluate AI landscapes, identify security challenges, and architect solutions with governance and controls.
• Engage in strategic account selling, business development, and ongoing customer success focused on ROI.
• Collaborate with channel partners to close AI Security deals and accelerate closing motions.
• Develop trusted relationships with C-level executives and AI decision-makers.
• Align with sales, marketing and product management for effective GTM messaging.
• Act as an AI evangelist promoting best practices and secure AI deployment.

Skills

Quota-carrying sales

Executive engagement

AI technologies knowledge

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Travel up to 50%

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field

Job description

At Fortinet, we are at the forefront of securing the evolving Artificial Intelligence (AI) landscape with our FortiAIGate AI security platform.

We are seeking a passionate and experienced AI Sales Specialist to support the go-to-market (GTM) strategy and execution for our rapidly growing AI security solutions. This critical quota carrying sales role will be instrumental in accelerating the adoption of our solutions that help customers secure the creation and usage of AI applications, including homegrown AI and popular agentic AI tools.

Your Responsibilities

• Partner with regional sales leaders to shape and execute the GTM strategy for AI Security solutions across your region, focusing on both expanding existing Fortinet customers and driving greenfield acquisition.

• Collaborate closely with Fortinet account managers and partners to build pipeline, and to identify, qualify, and close AI Security business.

• Lead customer-facing activities, including executive presentations, discovery workshops, and live product demonstrations.

• Design and deliver regional training programs for Fortinet account managers, educating them on new product features, capabilities, competitive differentiators, use cases and business outcomes, to ensure they can confidently pitch and represent Fortinet’s AI security strategy.

• Consult with enterprise clients to evaluate their current AI landscape, identify security challenges, and architect effective solutions. Act as a trusted thought leader on AI governance and controls, runtime protection, guardrails, automated red-teaming, and shadow AI.

• Personally engage in strategic account selling, business development, and ongoing customer success, with a focus on business outcomes and ROI

• Engage deeply with Fortinet’s channel and reseller partners to equip them with the knowledge and resources needed to successfully close AI Security deals, ensuring they are positioned and motivated to lead with Fortinet for AI security.

• Cultivate strong, trusted relationships with key customer stakeholders, including C-level executives, security leaders, and AI decision-makers.

• Partner closely with sales, marketing, and product management to ensure alignment and effective GTM execution and AI Security messaging.

• Serve as an AI evangelist to educate customers on agentic AI best practices, secure AI deployment, and position Fortinet as the definitive leader in AI security projects.

Qualifications

Your Experience

• Bachelors degree in engineering, science, computer science or related technical field of study prefered

• 7+ years of quota-carrying technical sales experience, including at least 3 years specializing in AI and related technologies.

• Proven track recorder of consistently meeting or exceeding quota and successfully closing multi-stakeholder, 6- and 7-figure ACV deals in complex enterprise accounts

• Demonstrated experience engaging with C-level executives, including CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and Heads of AI.

• Understanding of core AI technologies, including machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI.

• Experience working within regulated or data-sensitive industries (such as financial services, healthcare, and semiconductors) is preferred.

• Familiarity with popular agentic AI tools, AI infrastructure, and their associated security implications is preferred.

• Exemplary written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

• Strong understanding of cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)

• Ability to travel up to 50% to develop customer relationships and advance opportunities

Fortinet offers employees a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), 11paid holidays, vacation time, and sick time as well as a comprehensive leave program.

Wage ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, and job level. On target earnings for this position is expected to be $220,000 - $260,000 per year. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's subject knowledge, skill level, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

All roles are eligible to participate in the Fortinet equity program, and this position is also eligible for commissions based on the terms of the Sales Compensation Plan