Founding SDR

About Retell AI

At Retell AI, we’re not just automating calls—we’re transforming how the world communicates. Our AI voice agents are reshaping sales, support, and customer engagement for leading brands. Backed by Alt Capital, Y Combinator, and top-tier investors, we’ve raised $4.7M in seed funding and hit $17M ARR with just 12 people. We’re one of the fastest-growing Voice AI startups, and we’re on a mission to become the standard for voice automation at scale. We’re also one of the top-ranking startups at leanaileaderboard.com.

About the Role

As a Founding Sales Development Representative (SDR), you’ll be at the forefront of Retell AI’s go-to-market strategy, driving growth by identifying and qualifying high-value leads for our AI voice platform. You’ll own the outbound sales process, from prospecting to nurturing relationships, while experimenting with creative growth strategies to expand our reach. Collaborating closely with the founding team, you’ll shape our sales pipeline, refine processes, and contribute to building a category defining platform. This high-impact role offers the chance to take ownership, move fast, and directly influence Retell AI’s growth trajectory. This role will be a gateway to becoming an SDR manager in future.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute outbound strategies to generate and qualify leads, targeting enterprises and high-potential prospects.

• Leverage tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, CRM platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce), and outreach automation tools (e.g. Outreach, Apollo) to build a robust sales pipeline.

• Craft compelling, personalized messaging to engage prospects and drive meaningful conversations.

• Conduct high-volume outreach (calls, emails, social) while maintaining CRM cleanliness and tracking outcomes quantitatively.

• Experiment with growth hacking techniques, testing new channels and strategies to optimize lead generation and conversion.

• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and product teams to refine messaging, align on target personas, and incorporate customer feedback.

• Systematically document and iterate on processes, using data-driven insights to improve outreach efficiency and effectiveness.

• Represent Retell AI’s mission and value proposition, acting as a brand ambassador to prospects.

You Might thrive if You

• Have 1 to 2 years as an SDR, ideally at an early-stage startup, with a track record of consistently exceeding quarterly quotas.

• Are proficient in SDR tools (e.g., LinkedIn Sales Navigator, HubSpot, Outreach) and can hit the ground running.

• Are a self-starter, highly motivated to take ownership in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

• Possess exceptional written and verbal communication skills, making you a natural at engaging prospects.

• Are extremely organized and process-oriented, with a passion for maintaining CRM cleanliness and tracking experiments quantitatively.

• Are knowledgeable in sales development best practices, including effective tool use, messaging strategies, and scalable outreach.

• Thrive in ambiguous settings, eagerly refining processes and experimenting with new growth strategies.

• Have a curiosity for AI and voice automation, with a drive to learn about Retell AI’s mission and technology.

Job Details

• Job Type: Full-time, 70 hr/week (50 hr/week onsite with flexible hours + 20 hr/week work from home)

• OTE: $104k–$136k

• Base Salary: $80k–$100k

• Commission: $24k–$36k (excluding all accelerators)

• Equity: 0.05%

• US Visas: Sponsors TN Visa only

Other Benefits

• 100% medical, dental, vision insurance coverage

• Unlimited breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks

• Gym and daily commute fee reimbursement

• Internet and phone bills covered

• Offsite trips and team dinners

Compensation Philosophy

• Best Offer Upfront: Choose from three cash-equity balance options; no negotiation needed.

• Top 1% Talent: Above-market pay (top 5 percentile) to attract exceptional builders.

• High Ownership: Small teams, >$1M revenue/employee, and significant equity.

• Performance-Based: Offers tied to interview performance, not experience or past salaries.

Interview Process

• Introductory Call (30 min): Conversation with a co-founder or GTM lead to explore your background, interest in Retell AI, and alignment with the SDR/Growth role.

• Live SDR Scenario (30 min): Real-time role-play interview focused on your ability to fulfill SDR responsibilities.

• Onsite Interviews (2 hrs): Conducted virtually or at our Bay Area office, with three rounds:

  • Outreach Strategy: Present a plan for building a lead pipeline for a specific target persona.

  • Growth Experimentation: Propose and analyze a growth hacking experiment to drive prospect engagement.

  • Communication Objection Handling: Role-play a prospect interaction, showcasing your ability to align stakeholders and overcome challenges.