Account Executive, SMB

AirOps

$70K — $120K *
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in a technical role such as support, engineering, or technical sales
  • Genuine interest in AI with a fast learning ability for new technical concepts
  • Basic knowledge of LLMs (Large Language Models) and prompt engineering techniques
  • Strong communication skills, capable of simplifying complex ideas for diverse audiences
  • Comfortable navigating ambiguity in a rapidly changing environment
  • A builder mentality with hands-on engagement in developing processes
  • Located in San Francisco or New York, as this is an in-person role

Responsibilities

  • Own the full sales cycle for SMB accounts from prospecting to closing
  • Build and deliver compelling technical demos addressing real customer challenges
  • Collaborate with product and engineering teams to relay customer feedback and influence product enhancements
  • Develop in-depth knowledge of AI and LLM applications relevant to content marketing
  • Execute product-led sales initiatives including free trials and customer expansion opportunities

Benefits

  • Equity in a fast-growing startup
  • Competitive benefits package customized for your location
  • Flexible time-off policy
  • Generous parental leave
  • A fun and dynamic team environment that embraces speed and creativity
Full Job Description
About AirOps

Today thousands of leading brands and agencies use AirOps to win the battle for attention with content that both humans and agents love.

We're building the platform and profession that will empower a million marketers to become modern leaders - not spectators - as AI reshapes how brands reach their audiences.

We're backed by awesome investors, including Unusual Ventures, Wing VC, Founder Collective, XFund, Village Global, and Alt Capital, and we're building a world-class team with in-person hubs in San Francisco, New York, and Montevideo, Uruguay.
About the Role

We're looking for an SMB Account Executive who combines technical knowledge with sales ambition to drive AirOps' growth within the startup and SMB ecosystem. This is a product-led sales role where you'll leverage your technical background to demonstrate value, close deals, and help startups transform their content operations with AI.

You'll own the full sales cycle for SMB accounts, working with startup founders, growth teams, and marketing leaders. Your technical experience will be your superpower - enabling you to build compelling demos, troubleshoot implementations, and speak credibly about AI solutions while driving revenue.

Who You Might Be

In addition to technical AEs, we're open-minded to looking at someone with one of these backgrounds who wants to transition into sales:

Path 1: Technical Support → Sales
  • You've spent 1-3 years in technical support or customer success at a SaaS company
  • You understand how to diagnose problems and guide customers to solutions
  • You're tired of being reactive and want to proactively drive revenue
  • You've seen what good and bad sales reps do, and you know you can do better
Path 2: Engineer → Sales
  • You've been a software engineer or solutions engineer for 1-3 years
  • You enjoy the problem-solving aspect but crave more human interaction
  • You find yourself naturally explaining technical concepts to non-technical people
  • You want to directly impact business growth rather than just building features
Path 3: Technical SDR/BDR → Closing Role
  • You've been a technical SDR/BDR at a low-code or AI company
  • You understand developer tools and can speak to technical audiences
  • You're ready to own the full sales cycle, not just the top of funnel
  • You've been studying your AEs and know you're ready for the next step
Key Responsibilities
  • Own the entire SMB sales cycle from prospecting to close, focusing on startups and high-growth companies
  • Build and deliver technical demos that showcase AirOps solving real customer problems
  • Collaborate with product and engineering to communicate customer needs and improve the product
  • Develop expertise in AI/LLM use cases for content and marketing teams
  • Run product-led sales motions including free trial conversions and expansion opportunities
What You'll Need

Must-Haves:
  • Technical background through support, engineering, or technical sales experience
  • Genuine interest in AI and ability to learn new technical concepts quickly
  • Basic understanding of LLMs and prompt engineering
  • Strong communication skills - you can explain complex ideas simply
  • Comfort with ambiguity - the only constant is change
  • Builder mentality - you'll become proficient building with AirOps (if you're not already!) and you'll build process around the role
  • Located in SF or NYC - this is an in-person role with real collaboration

Nice-to-Haves:
  • Experience at an early-stage startup (Series A or earlier)
  • Familiarity with marketing/content tech stack
  • Previous experience with product-led growth companies
Why This Role is Special:
  • Technical Sales is the Future: As software becomes more complex, technical sellers win
  • Ground Floor Opportunity: Be one of the first AEs and help build the sales org
  • Rapid Career Growth: We promote internally before looking externally
  • Real Product-Market Fit: You'll be selling something customers actually want
  • Learn from the Best: Direct access to founders and senior leadership
Our Guiding Principles
  1. Extreme Ownership
  2. Quality
  3. Curiosity and Play
  4. Make Our Customers Heroes
  5. Respectful Candor
Benefits
  • Equity in a fast-growing startup
  • Competitive benefits package tailored to your location
  • Flexible time off policy
  • Generous parental leave
  • A fun-loving and (just a bit) nerdy team that loves to move fast!

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at AirOps

More Technical Services Jobs

Find similar Account Executive, SMB jobs: