Principal, Strategic Solution Engineer - Nonprofits

Salesforce; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 183,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Salesforce is seeking a Principal Solution Engineer to serve as the grantmaking SME on the Solution Engineering team, driving strategic growth and customer success across nonprofit foundations. This senior IC role combines deep grantmaking domain expertise with the technical and executive presence to lead the most strategic deals.

The role requires leading discovery workshops with C-level stakeholders, shaping demos, and guiding RFI/RFP responses.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of foundation/grantmaking technology or solution engineering experience.
• Executive-level communication skills to present to C-suite and board-level stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge of cloud SaaS, web tech, and the Salesforce platform.

Responsibilities

• Act as principal SME on foundation/grantmaking solutions and mentor other SEs.
• Own strategy and technical direction for large foundation and grantmaking opportunities.
• Partner with sales, post-sales, product, and marketing on GTM strategy.
• Lead discovery workshops and executive briefings with key stakeholders.
• Architect and present tailored demos and solution designs on the Salesforce platform.
• Own RFI/RFP responses and competitive positioning for grantmaking deals.
• Represent Salesforce at industry events and webinars on grantmaking.
• Provide input to product management on roadmap priorities.

Skills

Grantmaking domain expertise

Executive communication

Salesforce platform knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/SE/MIS

Tools

Salesforce ecosystem

CRM software

Job description

To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts. Job Category Sales Job Details About Salesforce

About Salesforce

Salesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn’t a buzzword — it’s a way of life. The world of work as we know it is changing and we're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all. Ready to level-up your career at the company leading workforce transformation in the agentic era? You’re in the right place! Agentforce is the future of AI, and you are the future of Salesforce.

About the Role

We're looking for a Principal Solution Engineer to serve as the foundation and grantmaking subject‑matter expert on our Solution Engineering team, driving strategic growth and customer success across our Nonprofit Cloud portfolio's most complex foundation and grantmaking accounts. This is a senior individual contributor role for someone who combines deep grantmaking domain expertise with the technical and executive presence to lead the most strategic deals.

Responsibilities

• Act as the principal-level SME on foundation/grantmaking solutions across the Solution Engineering organization, mentoring other SEs on grantmaking best practices
• Own solution strategy and technical direction for the largest, most complex foundation and grantmaking opportunities
• Partner cross-functionally with sales leadership, post-sales, product management, and marketing to shape go-to-market strategy
• Lead discovery workshops and executive briefings with C-level, IT, and program stakeholders at major foundations
• Architect and present tailored, high-impact demos and solution designs on the Salesforce platform
• Own strategic RFI/RFP responses and competitive positioning for grantmaking deals
• Represent Salesforce as a thought leader at industry events and webinars focused on the grantmaking/philanthropy sector
• Provide input to product management on grantmaking roadmap priorities based on field and customer feedback
• Coach and enable other SEs and sales teams on grantmaking domain knowledge

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant foundation/grantmaking technology and/or solution engineering experience
• Proven track record leading complex, strategic sales cycles with measurable business-value outcomes
• Executive-level communication skills; comfortable presenting to C-suite and board-level stakeholders
• Deep knowledge of cloud SaaS solutions, web technologies, and the Salesforce platform
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently as a senior technical leader and mentor
• B.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, MIS, or related field; MBA a plus (not required)

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct practitioner or systems-owner experience at a large foundation or grantmaking organization
• Deep familiarity with the Salesforce ecosystem (Nonprofit Cloud, Grants Management)
• Salesforce Administrator certification or Trailhead Ranger status
• Experience speaking or publishing on grantmaking/philanthropy technology trends

Unleash Your Potential

When you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance and be your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you can do your best. Together, we’ll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love.

Accommodations

If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via this Accommodations Request Form.

Posting Statement

Salesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. What does that mean exactly? It means that at Salesforce, we believe in equality for all. And we believe we can lead the path to equality in part by creating a workplace that’s inclusive, and free from discrimination.

Website: https://www.salesforcebenefits.com.

Salesforce offers a variety of benefits to help you live well including:

• time off programs
• medical
• dental
• vision
• mental health support
• paid parental leave
• life and disability insurance
• 401(k)
• an employee stock purchasing program

The typical base salary range for this position is $182,770 - $244,510 annually

In California and New York, and select cities in the metropolitan areas of Boston, Chicago, Seattle, and Washington DC, the base pay range for this role in those locations is $201,110 - $269,080 per year.

Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.