Salesforce

Principal Solution Engineer, Global Private Equity & Startups Practice

Salesforce • $157K — $210K *
Business Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years in technical pre-sales or solution engineering for enterprise software
  • Strong understanding of private equity value creation and startup scaling
  • Hands-on knowledge of generative and agentic AI
  • Ability to engage with senior executives and manage complex conversations
  • Proficient storytelling and demo skills
  • Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM and data platforms
  • Background in private equity, venture-backed companies, or financial services is a plus

Responsibilities

  • Advise PE firms and startups on agentic transformation using Salesforce solutions
  • Lead executive discussions connecting AI strategy to investment goals
  • Design and deliver tailored demos showcasing AI capabilities
  • Drive value creation across portfolios with Salesforce solutions
  • Partner with startups to build scalable platforms
  • Collaborate with the Relationship Management team on account strategies
  • Shape thought leadership through co-creating assets and demo environments

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work at the forefront of AI adoption in private equity
  • Impact on technology strategies across multiple portfolio companies
  • Engagement with high-level executives and fast-paced leaders
  • Membership in a specialized, high-visibility team
  • Continuous learning and professional development opportunities
  • Mentorship and community elevation within the SE field
Full Job Description

To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts.

Job Category

Sales

Job Details

Overview

AI is reshaping how capital is deployed, how companies scale, and how value is created, and nowhere is that shift moving faster than in private equity and the startup ecosystem. The Global Private Equity & Startups Practice (PE & Startups) is one of Salesforce's most strategic go-to-market initiatives. We partner with the world's leading PE firms, their portfolio companies, and the most ambitious high-growth and AI-native startups to help them become agentic enterprises.

As a Solution Engineer in PE & Startups, you'll work where enterprise technology, investment strategy, and executive advisory meet. You'll help investors and operators turn AI from a boardroom talking point into measurable results, using Agentforce, Data 360, and the Salesforce platform to redesign how deals are sourced, how portfolios are run, and how companies grow.

This is not a traditional SE role. You'll advise Operating Partners, founders, and C-suite leaders, build solution narratives that move at deal speed, and help define what an AI-first operating model looks like across entire portfolios.

Why This Role Stands Out

You'll be at the forefront of agentic AI adoption. PE firms are under pressure to show AI-driven value creation across their portfolios, and startups are building AI into their businesses from day one. You'll help both.

You'll have outsized, portfolio-level impact. One successful engagement with a PE firm can shape the technology strategy of dozens of portfolio companies. One win with a fast-growing startup can grow into a long-term enterprise partnership.

You'll work with sophisticated, fast-moving leaders: Managing Partners, Operating Partners, founders, CFOs, CROs, and CIOs who expect sharp thinking and fast results.

You'll join a specialized, high-visibility team aligned to Salesforce's most strategic PE-backed and high-growth accounts, and you'll help shape the practice's point of view on AI in private markets.

What You'll Do

Advise on agentic transformation. Serve as the primary technical and strategic advisor to PE firms, their portfolio companies, and high-growth startups, guiding them through multi-cloud Salesforce and Agentforce solutions for deal flow, LP relations, portfolio operations, and revenue growth.

Lead executive conversations. Run discovery and value-framing sessions with Managing Directors, Operating Partners, founders, CFOs, and CIOs, connecting AI and data strategy directly to investment theses, EBITDA improvement, and growth goals.

Show the future, not slides. Design and deliver highly tailored demos, prototypes, and proofs of concept that show AI agents working alongside people: automating sourcing and diligence workflows, improving portfolio visibility, scaling sales and service, and unlocking digital labor.

Drive portfolio-wide value creation. Articulate how Salesforce accelerates revenue growth, operational efficiency, and exit readiness, and help firms build repeatable AI and data playbooks they can roll out across their portfolios.

Partner with startups built for scale. Help AI-native and venture-backed companies build a platform that grows with them, from early go-to-market motions to enterprise-grade operations.

Orchestrate the best of Salesforce. Work with the PE & Startups Relationship Management team on account strategy, executive mapping, and deal orchestration, and bring in specialists (industry SEs, solution architects, Agentforce and Data 360 experts) where they add the most value.

Stay ahead of the curve. Build deep expertise in Agentforce, Data 360, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Revenue Cloud, Slack, Tableau, and MuleSoft, and track how agentic AI, data strategy, and AI governance are changing private markets and scaling companies.

Shape thought leadership. Co-create point-of-view assets, reference architectures, demo environments, and enablement content for PE & Startups personas, including emerging use cases such as AI-assisted due diligence, portfolio intelligence, and agent-powered go-to-market.

Be the face of Salesforce in the ecosystem. Represent Salesforce at high-profile PE & Startups events, operating partner summits, founder forums, roundtables, and executive dinners.

Elevate the broader SE community. Mentor and enable fellow SEs on PE & Startups narratives, methods, and AI-driven deal approaches.

Keep learning. Maintain relevant certifications and stay current on Salesforce innovation, AI market developments, and private markets trends.

Travel as needed to engage PE firm headquarters, portfolio company sites, and startup hubs across the US.

What You'll Bring

A strong track record in technical pre-sales, solution engineering, or solution consulting for enterprise software, ideally with executive-facing engagements

Business acumen and financial fluency: you understand how PE firms create value, how startups scale, and how technology decisions affect EBITDA, growth, and valuation

Hands-on curiosity about generative and agentic AI, and the ability to explain clearly where AI agents create real business value and where they don't

Confidence and credibility with senior investors, operators, and founders, and the ability to run complex, multi-stakeholder conversations on tight timelines

Strong storytelling, demo, and whiteboarding skills

Experience with Salesforce, CRM, data platforms, or AI solutions is a strong plus; experience in or alongside private equity, venture-backed companies, or financial services is highly valued

We hire based on demonstrated expertise and impact. If you're excited about helping the world's leading investors and fastest-growing companies make the leap to agentic AI, we'd love to hear from you.

About Salesforce

ExactTarget is a provider of on-demand email marketing software solutions. Their suite of on-demand one-to-one marketing applications enables clients to send business-critical and event-triggered communications to increase sales, optimize marketing investments, and strengthen customer relationships. They offer four editions of their on-demand software application along with integrated solutions such as ExactTarget for AppExchange and ExactTarget for [Microsoft](/organization/Microsoft) Dynamics CRM.

Salesforce Careers

Joining Salesforce means becoming part of a dynamic, global team of professionals who are deeply committed to driving customer success and innovation. As the world's leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, Salesforce offers unparalleled job opportunities in technology and consulting, making it an ideal place for ambitious individuals looking to make a significant impact.

Work You'll Do

At Salesforce, every position is a chance to leverage your skills and creativity to transform businesses and industries. Our diverse team of experts collaborates to deliver cutting-edge solutions that foster growth and enhance leadership capabilities. By joining our team, you'll be at the forefront of digital innovation, using Salesforce's powerful platform to help clients navigate their transformation journeys.

Innovate and Lead

Salesforce is not just a company; it's a community where you can lead with your ideas and see them come to life. Our culture of innovation encourages you to challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what's possible. With Salesforce, you'll work alongside leaders in technology and business who are committed to your growth and professional development.

Career Growth and Opportunities

Whether you're looking for an internship, a full-time position, or leadership roles, Salesforce provides a wealth of opportunities to advance your career. Our commitment to professional growth is reflected in our robust training programs, including leadership development and diversity training, designed to help you excel at every stage of your career.

Be Part of a Great Team

Salesforce prides itself on a culture that values diversity, teamwork, and open communication. We believe that our strength lies in our people, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive. Joining our team means being part of a supportive community that encourages networking and collaboration.

Benefits and Culture

At Salesforce, we understand that job satisfaction extends beyond the office. That's why we offer competitive benefits to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees and their families. From health insurance and retirement plans to wellness programs and flexible working arrangements, we provide the benefits that contribute to a better work-life balance.

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Learn more about Salesforce
Size
73,541 employees
Market Cap
$130.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$4 billion
Founded
2000
5 Year Trend
+25.7%
Revenue
$21.2 billion
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