Commerical Account Executive

KONG; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kong Inc. is seeking a Commercial Sales Executive to drive growth in Austin, TX. You will own the full sales cycle, from prospecting to closing, while engaging C-level executives and aligning Kong?s solutions to customer needs.

This role emphasizes open-source or enterprise software familiarity in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting. You will build and manage a strategic pipeline, collaborate with product and marketing teams, and represent Kong at industry events.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in sales (<1k employees) in SaaS, cloud, or enterprise software.
• 2+ years closing deals independently, preferably in Commercial & Mid-Market.
• Proven success selling to SMBs/SMEs and engaging senior executives across departments.
• Strong consultative selling and ability to map business value to solutions.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with stakeholders.
• Results-driven with proven achievement of revenue targets.
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and forecasting.
• Knowledge of open-source software, APIs, or infrastructure software is advantageous.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Analytical and strategic thinker with growth opportunity focus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sales strategies to target commercial customers and grow a robust pipeline.
• Own the full sales cycle from prospecting to negotiation and closing while meeting revenue targets.
• Collaborate with product, marketing, and customer success for a seamless sales experience.
• Deliver customized demos and presentations addressing client business needs.
• Build relationships with C-level executives and key decision-makers to ensure retention.
• Lead account planning and research potential customers and industry trends.
• Forecast opportunities and maintain detailed CRM records of progress.
• Stay updated on industry trends and competitive offerings to maintain edge.
• Contribute feedback to product and marketing for GTM strategies.
• Represent Kong at industry events and customer meetings.

Skills

Sales experience

Closing deals

Consultative selling

CRM proficiency

Open-source knowledge

Enterprise sales

Executive engagement

SaaS industry knowledge

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Are you ready to unlock intelligence?

About the Role:

We are seeking a committed Commercial Sales Executive with a successful background in sales and account management, ideally within open source or similar enterprise software environments. In this role, you will be a key driver of our growth strategy, directly impacting the stability and expansion of our recurring revenue. This position is ideal for a sales professional who has experience in landing new clients, retaining existing customers, and driving account expansion for early-stage enterprise products in a dynamic, entrepreneurial setting.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop and execute sales strategies to target commercial customers, focusing on building and maintaining a robust pipeline that drives long-term growth.

• Own the entire sales cycle, from prospecting and initial outreach to contract negotiations and closing deals, while consistently meeting or exceeding revenue targets.

• Collaborate with internal teams, including product, marketing, and customer success, to ensure a seamless sales experience and alignment on customer needs.

• Identify customer pain points and align our solutions to address these, delivering customized product demos and presentations tailored to their specific business needs.

• Build and nurture relationships with C-level executives and key decision‑makers within target accounts, establishing yourself as a trusted advisor and ensuring customer satisfaction and retention.

• Lead account planning efforts by researching potential customers, understanding industry trends, and developing strategies to win new business and grow existing accounts.

• Monitor and manage sales activities and results, accurately forecasting opportunities and keeping detailed records of interactions and progress in CRM systems.

• Stay updated on industry trends, competitor offerings, and market changes to position our product effectively and maintain a competitive edge.

• Contribute to business growth initiatives, providing feedback to product and marketing teams to influence product development and go-to-market strategies.

• Represent Kong with professionalism, acting as a brand ambassador at industry events, conferences, and customer meetings.

What You’ll Bring:

• 5+ years of experience in sales (<1k employees) a SaaS, cloud, or enterprise software environment.

• 2+ years closing deals independently, preferably in Commercial & Mid-Market.

• Demonstrated success in selling to small to medium enterprises, particularly to senior-level executives and across multiple departments.

• Strong consultative selling skills, with the ability to understand customer needs and present compelling solutions that drive business outcomes.

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of managing high-stakes conversations and building lasting relationships with stakeholders.

• A results-driven mindset, with a passion for meeting and exceeding sales goals and revenue targets.

• Experience working with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and leveraging data to forecast accurately and track sales metrics.

• Knowledge of open-source software, APIs, or infrastructure software is highly advantageous.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, taking ownership of your sales territory and adapting to changing market dynamics.

• Analytical and strategic thinking, with a knack for identifying business growth opportunities and devising plans to capitalize on them.

  
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About Kong:

Kong Inc., the AI Connectivity Company, is building the connectivity layer of AI. Trusted by the Fortune 500® and AI-native startups alike, Kong’s unified API and AI platform enables organizations to secure, manage, accelerate, govern, and monetize the flow of intelligence across APIs and AI traffic — on any model, any cloud. For more information, visit www.konghq.com.