Senior Cybersecurity Sales Engineer - $270k OTE + Equity

Horizon3.ai; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 240,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Remote-friendly

Chicago office access

Health, vision & dental insurance

Job summary

Horizon3.ai is a fast-growing remote cybersecurity company behind NodeZero, a production-safe autonomous pentest platform that scales across large environments. We are seeking a Senior Sales Engineer to partner with Account Executives and help growing organizations within the SLED vertical understand the value of our platform in technical and business terms.

This role thrives in high-velocity environments, where you simplify complex security concepts, build trusted relationships with customers,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a Sales Engineer or Solutions Architect in cybersecurity or infrastructure.
• Experience working SLED accounts with a mix of technical depth and executive interaction.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals (threat landscape, vulnerability management, identity, cloud, AD).
• Ability to simplify complex technical concepts for both practitioners and executives.
• Experience running structured PoVs and managing technical validation cycles.
• Collaborative and thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Responsibilities

• Be a trusted technical partner in Enterprise deals.
• Lead discovery and technical qualification.
• Deliver tailored demos and PoVs that connect NodeZero to customer risk reduction and business impact.
• Maintain continuity through the customer lifecycle and surface expansion opportunities.

Skills

Sales Engineer

Executive interaction

Cybersecurity fundamentals

PoVs & validation

Education

BS in CS/IT

Job description

Senior Cybersecurity Sales Engineer - $270k OTE + Equity in Newark

The OTE range of $240,000–$270,000 (70/30 split, implying a base of ~$168,000–$189,000) is highly competitive for a Senior Sales Engineer in cybersecurity. Market benchmarks for comparable roles at growth-stage security companies typically fall between $180,000–$240,000 OTE, putting this at the top quartile. The addition of stock options in a fast-growing company adds meaningful upside.

This role builds a potent skill stack highly valued in the cybersecurity market:

• Autonomous pentesting and vulnerability management platform expertise (NodeZero is a recognized innovator)
• SLED vertical go-to-market experience — a niche but increasingly funded sector post-federal cybersecurity mandates
• Cross-functional influence: product feedback loops, roadmap input, and enablement ownership
• Post-sale technical continuity — a growing expectation in "land and expand" SaaS models

Company & Culture Signals

Horizon3 reads as a Series B-stage startup with strong government/DoD DNA (Special Operations background). The "learn-it-alls" language and results-oriented culture suggest a meritocratic, high-performance environment. Flexible vacation and parental leave are positive WLB signals, though high-velocity sales cycles can be demanding.

Green Flags: Transparent salary bands, equity for all full-time staff, genuine remote culture, clearly defined success metrics. Watch for: Commission-dependent comp (30%) means earnings vary with deal flow — understand pipeline health before accepting.

Get to Know Us

Horizon3 is a fast-growing, remote cybersecurity company dedicated to the mission of enabling organizations to proactively find, fix, and verify exploitable attack vectors before criminals exploit them. Our flagship product, the NodeZero™ platform, delivers production-safe autonomous pentests and other key assessment operations that scale across the largest internal, external, cloud, and hybrid cloud environments. NodeZero has been adopted by organizations of all sizes, from small educational institutions to government agencies and Global 100 enterprises. It is used by ITOps/SecOps teams, consulting pentesters, and MSSPs and MSPs.

We are a fusion of former U.S. Special Operations cyber operators, startup engineers, and formerly frustrated cybersecurity practitioners. We're committed to helping solve our common security problems: ineffective security tools, false positives resulting in alert fatigue, blind spots, "checkbox" security culture, cybersecurity skills shortage, and the long lead time and expense of hiring outside consultants. Collectively, we are a team of learn-it-alls, committed to a culture of respect, collaboration, ownership, and results.

About the Role

Horizon3 is redefining how organizations defend themselves against modern cyber threats. Our autonomous security platform, NodeZero, helps companies proactively find and fix vulnerabilities before attackers do.

We're looking for a Senior Sales Engineer to partner closely with our Account Executives and help growing organizations within the SLED vertical understand the technical and business value of our platform. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in high-velocity environments, can simplify complex security concepts, and enjoys building trusted relationships with customers.

What You'll Do

Be a trusted technical partner in Enterprise deals
Work alongside AEs to support discovery, solution positioning, and technical validation across mid-sized organizations with diverse environments.

Lead discovery and technical qualification
Meet with prospective customers to understand their infrastructure, security maturity, compliance requirements, and risk priorities.

Deliver tailored demos and PoVs
Run compelling, outcome-driven demos and proof-of-value engagements that clearly connect NodeZero's capabilities to customer risk reduction and business impact.

Maintain continuity through the customer lifecycle
Stay connected with key accounts to track evolving needs, ensure continued value realization, and surface expansion opportunities where it makes sense to.

Translate technical depth into business value
Help customers understand not just how the platform works, but why it matters—framing results in terms of exposure reduction, compliance alignment, and operational efficiency.

Own technical deal strategy
Navigate objections, competitive positioning, and technical concerns throughout the sales cycle.

Collaborate cross-functionally
Partner with Product, Engineering, Customer Success, and Product Marketing to ensure field feedback informs roadmap and positioning.

Support enablement and knowledge sharing
Contribute to internal knowledge sharing and continuously refine demo flows, technical assets, and playbooks for the Enterprise segment.

Own post-close technical continuity
Stay engaged after the deal closes to ensure a smooth technical handoff, reinforce initial value, and maintain executive and practitioner alignment—remaining attentive to adoption, impact, and expansion signals.

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years of experience as a Sales Engineer or Solutions Architect in cybersecurity or infrastructure
• Experience working SLED accounts with a mix of technical depth and executive interaction
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals (threat landscape, vulnerability management, identity, cloud, AD, etc.)
• Ability to simplify complex technical concepts for both practitioners and executives
• Experience running structured PoVs and managing technical validation cycles
• Strong collaboration skills and comfort operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, Cybersecurity, or related field (or equivalent experience)

What Success Looks Like

• You build strong, trust-based relationships with SLED customers
• PoVs are structured, outcome-driven, and consistently demonstrate clear value
• You partner seamlessly with AEs and contribute meaningfully to pipeline progression and win rates
• Customer feedback informs ongoing product and positioning improvements

Perks of Horizon3

• Inclusive Team: We value diversity and promote an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.
• Growth Opportunities: Be part of a dynamic and growing team with numerous career development opportunities.
• Innovative Culture: Work in a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
• Hybrid & Remote Work: We embrace a mix of remote and hybrid work models depending on role and location, including our Chicago office, where some roles require regular in-office presence.
• Competitive Compensation: We offer competitive salary, equity, and benefits. Our benefits include health, vision & dental insurance for you and your family, a flexible vacation policy, and generous parental leave.

Compensation and Values

At Horizon3, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and our compensation philosophy reflects this core value. We are committed to fostering an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and rewarded for their contributions. Our compensation structure is designed to be fair, competitive, and transparent, ensuring that every team member is recognized and compensated equitably across roles, levels, and locations.

In accordance with various State's transparency regulations, we provide the following salary range information for this position:

• Base salary range [or Total On-Target Compensation]: $240,000 – $270,000 annually (70/30 split). The exact salary will be determined based on the selected candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and relevant skills.
• Additional compensation: All full-time roles are eligible for an equity package in the form of stock options.

You Belong Here

Horizon3 is not just an equal opportunity employer — we are a community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental principles of our culture and success. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, hair length, or any other legally protected status by law.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion means we strive to attract, develop, and retain a workforce that reflects the varied communities we serve. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and strengthen our ability to create cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. At Horizon3, every team member is valued and supported in an environment that encourages personal and professional growth.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences, and we encourage all qualified individuals to apply. Come be a part of Horizon3, where your unique contributions are recognized, and your potential is limitless.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Application Note

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Is this Sales Engineer role fully remote or is there an in-office requirement? The role is primarily remote, with Horizon3 embracing flexible remote and hybrid work models. However, the company does have a Chicago office where some roles may require regular in-office presence, so location may affect expectations. What is the total compensation for this Senior Sales Engineer ... ... ...

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