Solutions Engineer (Pre-Sales) US

Aikido Security; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Aikido Security is seeking a Sales Engineer in Chicago, IL to partner with Account Executives, translating complex security concepts for developers, security teams, and technical stakeholders. The role centers on pre‑sales, running demos, guiding evaluations, and communicating value to prospects.

You will orchestrate technical evaluations, assist customers through code, cloud, and runtime contexts, and help drive deals forward with a hands‑on, problem‑solving mindset in a fast‑growing,

Qualifications

• 3–7+ years in a Sales Engineer, Solutions Engineer, or Pre‑Sales role.
• Strong technical foundation (cloud, DevOps, security, or developer tooling) and experience running demos, POCs, and technical evaluations.
• Comfortable engaging with both technical and business stakeholders.
• Ability to explain complex concepts in a simple, clear way.
• Hands‑on mindset, able to troubleshoot and dig into technical workflows.
• Strong communication skills and a proactive, ownership‑driven approach.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with Account Executives to drive the pre‑sales process, leading technical demos and product walkthroughs tailored to customer use cases.
• Run proofs‑of‑concept (POCs) and guide prospects through technical evaluations.
• Help prospects understand how Aikido fits into their code → cloud → runtime environments.
• Debug and troubleshoot technical questions during the sales process.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to developers, security teams, and engineering leaders.
• Collaborate with product and engineering to relay customer feedback and improve the platform.

Skills

Sales Engineer experience

Cloud technologies

DevOps

Security knowledge

Stakeholder communication

Technical demos

POCs and evaluations

Job description

We’re making security suck less for developers.

Security tools haven’t kept up with how software is built today. They interrupt teams, slow releases, and turn security into a bottleneck instead of a capability. We built Aikido to change that. Aikido builds developer-first security products that reduce real risk without getting in the way of shipping software. We focus on what actually matters and automate the rest.

We’re taking on legacy security tools teams have been stuck with, and we’re winning. If you want to help us take market share and build products developers actually enjoy using, you’re in the right place.

Founded in 2022 by third-time founders, Aikido has $85M in the bank and a long runway ahead. We’re building toward self-securing software. Join an all-star team. Take real ownership. Push boundaries. Build things that matter.

As a Sales Engineer at Aikido, you’ll play a key role in the sales process, partnering closely with Account Executives to help prospects understand, evaluate, and successfully adopt our platform. You’ll act as the technical counterpart in deals, running demos, guiding evaluations, and ensuring customers clearly see the value of Aikido. This role is heavily focused on pre‑sales, helping drive deals forward by translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for developers, security teams, and technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with Account Executives to drive the pre‑sales process, leading technical demos and product walkthroughs tailored to customer use cases
• Run proofs‑of‑concept (POCs) and guide prospects through technical evaluations
• Help prospects understand how Aikido fits into their code → cloud → runtime environments
• Debug and troubleshoot technical questions during the sales process
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to developers, security teams, and engineering leaders
• Collaborate with product and engineering to relay customer feedback and improve the platform

Qualifications

• 3–7+ years in a Sales Engineer, Solutions Engineer, or Pre‑Sales role
• Strong technical foundation (cloud, DevOps, security, or developer tooling) and experience running demos, POCs, and technical evaluations
• Comfortable engaging with both technical and business stakeholders
• Ability to explain complex concepts in a simple, clear way
• Hands‑on mindset, able to troubleshoot and dig into technical workflows
• Strong communication skills and a proactive, ownership‑driven approach

What you can expect

• Short decision lines. Big ownership. Shape the projects that matter and ship fast.
• Grow as fast as we do. Take on more, own more, and carve out your own path.
• Top‑tier tech pay and equity.
• High trust, strong values, zero corporate BS.
• Flexibility in working hours.
• A company that sticks to its values in an open and informal atmosphere.
• We hire for talent, drive, and potential. Everything else is noise.