Account Executive

Overview

This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a company that has been at the forefront of AI and high-performance data storage innovation for over two decades. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global market leader renowned for powering many of the world's most demanding AI data centers, in industries ranging from life sciences and healthcare to financial services, autonomous cars, Government, academia, research and manufacturing.

"DDN's A3I solutions are transforming the landscape of AI infrastructure." – IDC 

“The real differentiator is DDN. I never hesitate to recommend DDN. DDN is the de facto name for AI Storage in high performance environments” - Marc Hamilton, VP, Solutions Architecture & Engineering | NVIDIA 

DDN is the global leader in AI and multi-cloud data management at scale. Our cutting-edge data intelligence platform is designed to accelerate AI workloads, enabling organizations to extract maximum value from their data. With a proven track record of performance, reliability, and scalability, DDN empowers businesses to tackle the most challenging AI and data-intensive workloads with confidence. 

Our success is driven by our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and a team of passionate professionals who bring their expertise and dedication to every project. This is a chance to make a significant impact at a company that is shaping the future of AI and data management. 

Our commitment to innovation, customer success, and market leadership makes this an exciting and rewarding role for a driven professional looking to make a lasting impact in the world of AI and data storage. 

Job Description

We are seeking a high-energy, results-driven Account Executive with a passion for AI to join our rapidly growing sales team. This role will be responsible for driving revenue growth by selling our advanced data storage and management solutions to net new, acquisition accounts in the Healthcare and Life Sciences vertical. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of success in the AI and data center space, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and possess the ability to navigate highly competitive and complex sales cycles with enthusiasm and agility. This role is based on the West Coast. 

Key Responsibilities:

Sales Execution:

• Develop & execute strategic sales plans to achieve/exceed quarterly and annual revenue targets.
• Prospect, qualify, and close new business opportunities within assigned territories or target accounts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers and influencers in target organizations.
• Conduct compelling product demonstrations and presentations tailored to the specific needs of AI-focused clients.
• Negotiate contracts and close deals with a sense of urgency.

AI Market Expertise:

• Stay at the forefront of AI industry trends, emerging technologies, and market dynamics.
• Articulate the value proposition of our solutions in the context of AI workloads and challenges.
• Engage in thoughtful discussions about AI applications, data pipelines, and infrastructure requirements.
• Collaborate with our product team to provide market feedback and influence the product roadmap.

Pipeline Management:

• Maintain an active and healthy pipeline of AI workload opportunities.
• Accurately forecast sales projections and report on sales activities.
• Utilize CRM systems to track all customer interactions and sales progress.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with sales engineers, product specialists, and customer success teams to ensure client satisfaction.
• Partner with marketing to develop targeted campaigns and attend industry events.
• Collaborate with leadership to refine sales strategies and processes.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of successful enterprise sales experience, with at least 3 years selling AI-related technologies or solutions.
• Understand how to articulate high performance, data center solutions with an emphasis on efficiency impacts on networking, compute, and storage.
• Experience selling business solutions to the C-Suite, SVP, and VP levels of Fortune 1000 companies.
• Demonstrable track record of consistently meeting or exceeding multi-million dollar sales quotas in a high-growth environment.
• Strong understanding of AI technologies, machine learning workflows, and related infrastructure requirements.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Willingness and ability to travel 50% of the time.

Required Skills and Attributes:

• Passion for AI and its potential to transform industries.

Ability to work at an extremely fast pace and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

• Self-motivated with a strong desire to exceed expectations.
• Adaptability and resilience in a rapidly changing environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a consultative sales approach.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Bachelor's degree is required; advanced degree a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience selling data storage, data management, or infrastructure solutions for AI workloads.
• Knowledge of cloud computing platforms and their AI/ML services.
• Familiarity with data analytics, big data technologies, and data science workflows.
• Active network within the AI community or relevant industry verticals.
• The ideal candidate will be located in the Greater Boston Area or on the East Coast of the United States.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of the AI revolution, selling solutions that are critical to advancing the field. The successful candidate will thrive in our high-growth, fast-paced environment and play a key role in driving our company's success in the dynamic AI market. If you're passionate about AI, have a proven track record of sales success, and are ready to travel 50% of the time, we want to hear from you!

DDN

DDN has a very strong orientation towards these 4 characteristics and any successful employee will demonstrate these capabilities: 

Self-Starter - Takes independent action to identify and solve problems. Seeks out relevant information needed to make decisions. Gets involved with new initiatives. 

Success/Achievement Orientation - Delivers quality results consistently. Targets, achieves (or exceeds) measurable results. Sets challenging goals, focuses on critical priorities, and is accountable. 

Problem Solving - Recognizes problems and responds with a systematic assessment that identifies and addresses cause of issue. Practical, realistic, and resourceful. 

Innovative - Builds and improves key business processes that enhance the effectiveness of DDN. Generates new ideas, challenges the status quo, and solves problems creatively.

DataDirect Networks, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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