Enterprise Account Executive - Chicago

Kong; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uncapped commissions

Equity participation

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Kong is seeking an experienced Enterprise Account Executive to own the full enterprise sales cycle—from prospecting to close and expansion—across large accounts. You’ll engage C-level executives and coordinate with Product, Marketing, and Customer Success to tailor AI-enabled API/infrastructure solutions.

You will build a strong pipeline, drive revenue, and collaborate across teams in a fast-growth environment, with uncapped commissions and equity opportunities as part of total rewards.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of enterprise sales experience, ideally into organizations with 5,000+ employees.
• Proven success closing complex high-value deals within SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, or enterprise software.
• Strong new-logo hunter mentality with experience building pipeline and expanding strategic accounts.
• Experience selling to C-level executives and navigating multiple stakeholders.
• Strong consultative selling, negotiation, forecasting, and account-planning skills.
• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.
• Knowledge of APIs, open source, cloud, or infrastructure technology is a plus.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and take ownership of your territory.

Responsibilities

• Own the full enterprise sales cycle from prospecting through close and expansion.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline while consistently delivering against revenue targets.
• Develop relationships with C-level executives and key decision-makers, becoming a trusted advisor.
• Lead strategic account planning and identify new opportunities within enterprise accounts.
• Partner across Product, Marketing, Customer Success, and technical teams to deliver the right solutions for customers.
• Maintain accurate forecasting and pipeline management while staying ahead of market and competitive trends.

Skills

Enterprise sales

New logo hunting

C-level selling

Consultative selling

Forecasting & pipeline

Account planning

Salesforce / CRM

APIs / Cloud tech

Territory ownership

Job description

Are you ready to unlock intelligence?

About the Role

Kong is looking for an experienced Enterprise Account Executive to drive new business and expansion across large enterprise accounts. You’ll own the full sales cycle — from prospecting and pipeline generation through executive engagement, negotiation, and close.

This is an opportunity for a proven enterprise seller who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and knows how to navigate complex SaaS, cloud, or infrastructure sales.

At Kong, we offer uncapped commissions with significant upside, competitive benefits, and equity in a company with strong growth potential.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Own the full enterprise sales cycle from prospecting through close and expansion.

• Build and maintain a strong pipeline while consistently delivering against revenue targets.

• Develop relationships with C-level executives and key decision-makers, becoming a trusted advisor.

• Lead strategic account planning and identify new opportunities within enterprise accounts.

• Partner across Product, Marketing, Customer Success, and technical teams to deliver the right solutions for customers.

• Maintain accurate forecasting and pipeline management while staying ahead of market and competitive trends.

What You’ll Bring

• 7+ years of enterprise sales experience, ideally selling into organizations with 5,000+ employees.

• Proven success closing complex, high-value deals within SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, or enterprise software.

• Strong new-logo/hunter mentality with experience building pipeline and expanding strategic accounts.

• Experience selling to C-level executives and navigating multiple stakeholders.

• Strong consultative selling, negotiation, forecasting, and account-planning skills.

• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.

• Knowledge of APIs, open source, cloud, or infrastructure technology is a plus.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and take ownership of your territory.

Benefits & Growth at Kong

• Uncapped Earning & Equity: Competitive base compensation, uncapped commissions, and equity opportunities to share in our long-term growth.

• Recognition & Rewards: Top performers earn a spot in our annual President’s Club.

• Career Growth & Support: Structured onboarding, MEDDPICC training, ongoing enablement, and dedicated coaching.

• Global Scale & Impact: Partner with enterprise customers across AMER, EMEA, and APJ as we shape the future of API and AI connectivity.

• Award-Winning Culture: 4x Great Place To Work Certified™ (95% employee satisfaction).

• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, wellness, retirement, parental leave, and generous time-off programs tailored by region.

Benefits, compensation, equity eligibility, and incentive programs may vary based on location and role.

Benefits, compensation, equity eligibility, incentive programs, and other offerings may vary based on location, role, and employment type.

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.