Account Executive

Account Executive (Founding AE)

Remote (Austin, NYC, or LA) · Target start: July 2026 · 10–25% travel

📌 Role overview

Brainforge is hiring a founding Account Executive to own net-new revenue for our Data, AI, and Strategy & Analytics service lines. This is a full-cycle sales role: you will build pipeline, run discovery, shape scope, and close deals—then hand off to Client Success Owners (CSOs) with enough context that delivery can execute every promise made in the sale.

You've sold technical services or enterprise software before. You're comfortable with sophisticated buyers, you generate your own pipeline, and you treat outbound as core craft—not something beneath you. You'll also help us codify the sales motion: playbooks, objection handling, CRM standards, and how we co-sell with technology partners.

What you'll do

Own the full sales cycle

• Run prospecting through close on outbound and qualified inbound opportunities—no SDR safety net required
• Lead discovery and scoping calls that surface a prospect's data and AI maturity; tailor the journey instead of running a one-size-fits-all pitch
• Develop proposals, business cases, and SOW inputs that connect Brainforge services to measurable outcomes for technical and economic buyers
• Conduct mock-ready discovery and demo conversations without leaning on engineering for every call

Build and manage pipeline

• Generate pipeline through outbound, referrals, partner co-sell, and community-based in-person motion (events, meetups, local relationship building in Austin, NYC, or LA)
• Own 10+ real opportunities in HubSpot within your first 90 days (target; calibrated with leadership)
• Run sequences independently and log every touchpoint with discipline
• Deliver accurate weekly forecasts leadership can make decisions from
• Treat partnership opportunities like multi-threaded enterprise deals: structured follow-up, stakeholder mapping, and clear next steps

Shape how Brainforge sells

• Partner with GTM and Delivery leadership to refine messaging, qualification criteria, and the intro-call framework
• Contribute to the sales playbook, objection sheet, and win/loss feedback loops as you learn what works in market
• Work with Service Leads on scoping workshops when technical validation is needed
• Co-sell with technology partners (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks ecosystem) to build top-of-funnel access
• Use AI tools in your daily sales workflow—prospecting, research, follow-up, and call prep—and show us how you operationalize them

Hand off and expand

• Partner with CSOs on clean handoffs: stakeholder notes, commitments, risks, and expansion signals
• Surface cross-sell and upsell opportunities so nothing gets lost at close

What success looks like

First 90 days

• Full product knowledge; can run discovery and demo calls against our intro framework
• Passed internal mock calls with leadership
• Active HubSpot pipeline with at least 10 real opportunities
• At least one deal closed or in late-stage contracting
• Running outbound sequences independently with strong CRM hygiene

First 12 months

• Hitting quota (target to be finalized as conversion data matures; ~3–4 new clients per quarter is a reasonable starting benchmark)
• Discovery-to-close conversion at or above team benchmark
• Playbook and objection library materially improved from your field learnings

Ideal qualifications

Must-have

• 2+ years of outbound B2B sales experience (Account Executive, Sales Executive, or equivalent full-cycle role)
• Track record of quota attainment and self-generated pipeline
• Background selling tech services (data, AI, analytics, consulting) or enterprise software—not early-stage startup SaaS alone
• Fluency with CRM discipline (HubSpot or equivalent): stages, notes, contacts, and forecast you would stand behind in a board review
• Demonstrated use of at least one AI platform to improve sales productivity (research, outreach, call prep, follow-up)
• Ability to hold credible conversations with buyers familiar with the modern data stack (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, dbt, BI/analytics platforms)
• Written and verbal communication (Slack dominated) strong enough for executive stakeholders; comfort building or refining client-facing decks
• Emotionally even under rejection (Disagree and commit mindset); organized enough to know every deal's status without being chased

Nice-to-have

• Direct experience at data/AI services firms
• Background in marketing or strong visual storytelling for proposals and decks
• Experience co-selling with cloud/data partners or SI channels
• Prior founding AE or early GTM hire who helped build process, not just execute it

Traits we care about

• Genuinely curious — you ask questions because you want to understand, especially with sophisticated buyers
• Easy to be around — clients buy from people they trust; you know it when you feel it
• Quietly competitive — you don't like losing; it shows up in activity and follow-through
• Resourceful in chaos — energetic, optimistic, numbers-driven, self-critical in a productive way
• Hungry but not helpless — early enough to want ownership, experienced enough to not need hand-holding

This role is not for you if…

• You expect to work your own Rolodex instead of building pipeline
• You treat outbound and hitting the phones as beneath you

📍 Location & logistics

• Location: Remote, based in Austin, NYC, or LA
• Travel: 10–25% for client meetings, events, and partner activities
• Compensation: Competitive base + commission/OTE; details shared with qualified candidates