Now Hiring - GridGain Systems Inc. - Sales Engineer (USA OR CAD) -Remote in Chicago, IL

Full description of the position

Sales Engineer Location: Remote, USA or CAD (Remote position but candidate must be physically located in the USA or Canada) ABOUT GRIDGAIN Modern business-critical applications such as AI modeling, high-performance transaction processing, real-time decisioning, fraud detection and risk management all require more than just access to real-time data. These applications need a data platform that can store, access, process and analyze hundreds of terabytes of data at ultra-low latencies with high availability. GridGain is a leading real-time data platform by the original creators of Apache Ignite. It is the fastest, most non-intrusive way to process enterprise-wide data for AI, transactions and analytics in real time and at massive scale. GridGain allows companies to combine a fast multi-model database with robust compute functionality to deliver the fast access data storage and low-millisecond processing required for today's business imperatives. GridGain is trusted by leading companies including Citi, Barclays, American Airlines, AutoZone, and UPS to accelerate their existing applications, speed operational analytics and fraud detection, train machine learning models for AI, and provide fast-access data hubs. GridGain is growing! Join the team and play a critical role in a fast-paced Silicon Valley startup that's changing the definition of "real time," and the world's expectations for high-speed data processing and analytics. About the Role We seek aSales Engineer (SE) to drive technical sales, own and manage Proof of Value (PoV) engagements from start to finish, and secure technical wins. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, consultative selling, and project management to ensure customer success. As a trusted advisor, you will guide clients through the evaluation, adoption, and expansion of GridGain's solutions, ensuring alignment with their technical and business objectives. You will collaborate with sales, product, engineering, professional services (PS), and partners to drive market adoption and joint customer success. Key Responsibilities * Pre-Sales & Technical Sales Leadership * Lead technical sales engagements, including discovery sessions, live demos, and presentations. * Own and drive PoV engagements, ensuring clear success criteria, structured execution, and on-time delivery. * Project manage PoV execution, including coordinating work across SEs, PS, and external partners as needed. * Develop strategic sales approaches with Account Executives, articulating both technical and business value. * Address customer objections with clear technical explanations and real-world use cases. PoV Execution & Success Ownership * Define PoV scope, success criteria, and timeline, ensuring alignment with customer objectives. * Act as the primary point of contact and coordinator across internal teams (SEs, PS, engineering) and external resources. * Ensure a structured PoV execution plan, including resource assignment, risk management, and regular customer updates. * Track progress against defined PoV success metrics and drive customer buy-in at key milestones. * Escalate and resolve PoV blockers proactively, engaging the right technical and business resources. Solution Design & Customization * Analyze customer architectures and design solutions using GridGain and Apache Ignite. * Provide guidance on in-memory computing, distributed databases, data modeling, and performance tuning. * Develop and present customized technical proposals based on customer-specific requirements. Partner Enablement & Collaboration * Work with partners, resellers, and system integrators, providing technical training and enablement. * Support joint customer engagements, assisting in technical sales, PoV execution, and deployment guidance. * Serve as a liaison between partners and internal teams, gathering feedback to drive product improvements. Thought Leadership & Customer Advocacy * Deliver technical presentations, webinars, and whitepapers to educate the market. * Represent GridGain at industry conferences and customer events. * Provide feedback to product and engineering teams to influence roadmap decisions. Preferred Qualifications * 5+ years of experience in pre-sales, sales engineering, or solution consulting. * Proven experience leading and project-managing PoV engagements from scoping to completion. * Hands-on experience with Apache Ignite or GridGain is highly preferred. * Strong technical skills in Java, Kubernetes, SQL, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and distributed computing. * Excellent communication, leadership, and project management skills, with the ability to engage both technical and executive-level stakeholders. * Ability to translate technical solutions into business value and align with customer goals. What we can offer you: Remote-first environment Competitive salary and pre-IPO stock options A broad selection of medical, dental and vision insurance plans Optional HSA, FSA and dependent care reimbursement accounts Company-paid life insurance Generous holiday and vacation policy Family leave programs for life events 401(k) Monthly stipend for cell phone and gym memberships A great company culture with a strong emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion