Lightning AI is the company behind PyTorch Lightning. Founded in 2019, we build an end-to-end platform for developing, training, and deploying AI systems—designed to take ideas from research to production with less friction.
Through our merger with Voltage Park, a neocloud and AI Factory, Lightning AI combines developer-first software with cost-efficient, large-scale compute. Teams get the tools they need for experimentation, training, and production inference, with security, observability, and control built in.
We serve solo researchers, startups, and large enterprises. Lightning AI operates globally with offices in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and London, and is backed by Coatue, Index Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and Firstminute.
The Way We WorkThe people who thrive here are builders who move fast, communicate openly, take ownership, and continuously improve themselves, their teams, and our company. Here's what that looks like in practice:
- Move with Urgency: We move quickly, make thoughtful decisions, and keep momentum. We value action over perfection and learn by shipping.
- Take Ownership: We own outcomes, not just our individual work. We make decisions that move the company forward and follow through.
- Communicate Openly: We communicate directly, seek to understand, and create clarity for others. Honest conversations help us move faster together.
- Build Great Teams: We lead by example, empower others, and create healthy teams where people can do their best work.
- Raise the Bar: We're always improving ourselves. We learn from feedback, consistently challenge ourselves to grow, and focus on the work that matters most.
- Think Long-Term: We design for what's next. We create scalable systems, simplify complexity, and use AI and automation to amplify our impact.
Team: Revenue
Location: [NYC] - Hybrid
Reports to: VP, Sales or CRO
About Lightning AILightning AI is building the platform and infrastructure that make it dramatically easier for teams to develop, train, deploy, and scale AI systems. As the company behind PyTorch Lightning, and following our merger with Voltage Park, we bring together developer-first AI tooling with high-performance compute infrastructure for researchers, startups, and enterprises building at the frontier of AI.
We operate with a simple set of values: Move Fast, Focus, Balance, Craftsmanship, and Minimal. We care about people who can operate with urgency, solve hard problems directly, and build with high standards without creating unnecessary complexity.
About the RoleWe are looking for a Director of Sales to lead a high-performing enterprise sales team and help scale Lightning AI’s revenue engine across technical, strategic, and high-value accounts. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can coach complex enterprise selling, build durable operating rhythms, and help the team win with technical buyers across AI, infrastructure, engineering, research, and data organizations.
What You'll Do- Lead, coach, and scale a team of enterprise Account Executives focused on strategic and high-growth customers.
- Own team pipeline generation, forecast accuracy, deal inspection, and quota attainment.
- Build a rigorous sales operating cadence around territory planning, account strategy, pipeline creation, MEDDIC/MEDDPICC discipline, and executive alignment.
- Coach sellers through complex technical sales cycles involving ML leaders, infrastructure leaders, engineering executives, procurement, finance, and C-level stakeholders.
- Partner closely with ML Solutions Engineering, Customer Success, Partnerships, Marketing, Product, and Revenue Operations to create a repeatable enterprise GTM motion.
- Help define Lightning AI’s sales playbook for AI infrastructure, model development, training, deployment, and compute-intensive enterprise workloads.
- Identify blockers in the sales motion and build practical systems, content, inspection points, and feedback loops to remove them.
- Represent the voice of the customer internally and help shape product, packaging, pricing, and market positioning.
- Recruit and develop exceptional sales talent while building a culture of high accountability, curiosity, urgency, and craftsmanship.
- 8+ years of enterprise technology sales experience, including 3+ years managing quota-carrying sellers.
- A track record of leading teams that consistently exceed target in complex, technical sales environments.
- Experience selling to technical buyers such as ML leaders, infrastructure leaders, CTOs, engineering executives, platform teams, or data organizations.
- Strong command of enterprise sales methodology, forecasting, deal inspection, pipeline generation, and multi-threaded account strategy.
- Ability to coach sellers on both strategic account planning and the practical details of running a deal well.
- Comfort operating in a fast-moving startup environment where the playbook is still being built.
- Clear communication, high judgment, and the ability to build trust quickly with executive customers and internal leaders.
- Experience selling AI, cloud infrastructure, developer platforms, data platforms, MLOps, GPUs, or high-performance compute.
- Prior experience building a sales team or segment through a period of rapid growth.
- Deep familiarity with MEDDIC/MEDDPICC, command-of-the-message style positioning, or similar enterprise sales frameworks.
- Experience partnering closely with technical pre-sales or field engineering teams.
- You will help define how companies build and scale real AI systems, not just sell another generic software product.
- You will work with technical customers and teammates who care about speed, clarity, craft, and direct problem-solving.
- You will join a company with developer credibility, infrastructure ambition, and a GTM motion that is still early enough to shape.
We are committed to offering competitive compensation that reflects the value each team member brings to our mission. Final offers are based on factors such as experience, skills, geographic location, and role expectations. In addition to base salary, our total rewards package for eligible roles includes a discretionary bonus, a meaningful equity component, and comprehensive benefits.
We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees’ health, well-being, and long-term success:
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
- Meaningful Equity: RSUs that give employees a stake in the company's long-term success.
- Retirement Savings: 401(k) matching (U.S.) and pension contributions (U.K.).
- Flexible Time Off: Unlimited PTO, company holidays, and floating holidays to support work-life balance.
- Company-Wide Winter Break: Two weeks of company closure each winter to disconnect and recharge.
- Paid Parental & Family Leave: Paid leave to support you and your family through life's important moments.
- Professional Development: Annual learning and development allowance to support your professional growth.
- Wellness Benefits: Wellness and work-from-home stipends to support your physical and mental well-being.
- Sabbatical Program: Four weeks of paid sabbatical leave after four years of service.
- Flexible Work: Flexible schedules and a hybrid work model for our office-based teams.
- In-Office Meals: Complimentary meals at our office hubs.
Benefits may vary by location, team, and role.
At Lightning AI, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diverse teams drive innovation and create better products. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are dedicated to building a culture where everyone can thrive and contribute to their fullest potential.
Skills Required
- 8+ years of enterprise technology sales experience
- 3+ years managing quota-carrying sellers
- Track record of leading teams that consistently exceed target in complex, technical sales environments
- Experience selling to technical buyers, including ML leaders, infrastructure leaders, CTOs, engineering executives, platform teams, or data organizations
- Strong command of enterprise sales methodology, forecasting, deal inspection, pipeline generation, and multi-threaded account strategy
- Ability to coach sellers on strategic account planning and deal execution
- Comfort operating in a fast-moving startup environment
- Clear communication, sound judgment, and ability to build trust with executive customers and internal leaders
- Experience selling AI, cloud infrastructure, developer platforms, data platforms, MLOps, GPUs, or high-performance computing
- Experience building a sales team or segment during rapid growth
- Familiarity with MEDDIC, MEDDPICC, command-of-the-message positioning, or similar enterprise sales frameworks
- Experience partnering closely with technical pre-sales or field engineering teams
What We Do
Our platform provides intuitive open source tools, powerful cloud infrastructure and expertise to help you build AI securely.
Why Work With Us
Our team has shaped groundbreaking AI projects like PyTorch and PyTorch Lightning. We’re educators, innovators, and collaborators, united by a mission to democratize AI. A hybrid based company headquartered in New York City, we value in-person time for collaboration while still allowing flexibility.
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