Braun Board

Commercial Sales Engineer- New York

Chainguard · Remote · US

Base
$110K–$130K
OTE
$157K–$185K
Posted
5h ago

Still open · checked 2h agoon Chainguard's careers page

What Chainguard sells

Safe, ready-made open source software for engineering teams

Software teams build their apps from open source parts, and many of those parts carry hidden security holes. Chainguard rebuilds that open source software so it arrives secure and ready to use. Teams can then build faster, stay compliant, and worry less about risk.

In plain English, from their own job posts. Something wrong? Tell us

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The Braun Read

Ask hard questions

Too much is left unsaid. Make them answer before you invest.

Pay
Base and OTE both listed. Roughly a 70/30 base-to-variable split.
Transparency
Says nothing about quota, attainment, deal size, territory or sales cycle.
Pipeline
Doesn't say where pipeline comes from. Ask.
Time on market
Brand new.
Company hiring
Ramping up: posted 8 sales roles in the last 30 days.

Red flags

None spotted.

Green flags

  • Publishes OTE. It tells you the on-target earnings up front. Most postings don't.

Based only on what the posting says. Flags are a starting point for your first call, not a final judgment.

Questions to ask on the first call

Built from what this posting leaves out. How they answer tells you as much as what they say.

  1. 1.

    What percentage of fully ramped reps hit quota last year?

    OTE is what you could earn. This is how likely you are to earn it.

  2. 2.

    What's the annual quota, and how was it set?

    A quota built from real data is a target. Otherwise it's a hope.

  3. 3.

    Where does pipeline come from: inbound, SDRs, or me?

    Tells you how much of your week is prospecting versus selling.

  4. 4.

    How long is ramp, and what's the quota during it?

    Full quota on day one means you start behind.

  5. 5.

    Is the territory new or existing? Who had it before?

    An existing book is a head start. Greenfield means building from zero.

  6. 6.

    Why is this role open? Did someone leave, or is it new?

    New headcount is growth. A replacement means someone left. Ask why.

When the offer comes

Save these for later. They land better once they've said yes to you.

  1. 1.

    Can I see the full comp plan in writing, including clawbacks and accelerators?

    What's in writing is what gets paid. Read it before you sign.

  2. 2.

    Can I see the actual comp distribution for the team last year, not just the OTE?

    The spread shows what most reps really take home. OTE is just the target.

  3. 3.

    I'd be walking away from earned commission to join. Is there room for a sign-on bonus to help cover that?

    Leaving money behind is a fair reason to ask. The worst answer is no.

Josh's top five questions for any sales interview →

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The role

Support sales on hardened open-source software builds for startup and midmarket prospects as a technical pre-sales engineer, using MEDDPICC and advising on Kubernetes, cloud and app security. Must reside in NY metro.

Mid-Market · New Logo

Selling motion

New Logo

Who you're selling to

Buyer:
Technical decision-makers and security teamsIn their words: “engaging with technical decision-makers and security teams to discuss and implement security solutions”
Company size:
Mid-Market

Pipeline expectations

Not stated in the posting.

Compensation

$110K–$130K base · $157K–$185K OTE

What is not disclosed

This posting doesn't tell you:

  • Quota size
  • Quota attainment
  • Average deal size
  • Territory
  • Sales cycle length

The questions above cover the big ones.

Full posting
Chainguard is the trusted source for open source. By delivering hardened, secure, and production-ready builds of all the open source software engineers and AI agents rely on, Chainguard helps organizations build faster, stay compliant, and eliminate risk. Our customers include Fortune 500 enterprises and global industry leaders, including Anduril, Canva, Fortinet, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, OpenAI, Snap Inc., and Snowflake. Chainguard is venture-backed by leading investors, including Amplify, IVP, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Mantis VC, Redpoint Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Spark Capital. The role, in a nutshell: We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Corporate Sales Engineer to join our team. This role is integral to our sales efforts, especially focusing on startup and midmarket prospects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in technical sales with proven expertise in deploying advanced sales frameworks and a deep understanding of cloud and container technologies. As a trusted advisor, you will provide high-level technical guidance and support to our customers, helping to solve complex technical challenges and driving success in a fast-paced startup environment. What you'll do: - Collaborate closely with sales teams to understand customer requirements and craft tailored solutions that meet their business and technical needs. - Leverage extensive knowledge of sales frameworks like MEDDPICC and Command of the Message to effectively communicate and position our products and services. - Provide expert guidance on a variety of technologies including Kubernetes, serverless frameworks, Docker, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud platforms. - Advocate for cloud security best practices and app security, engaging with technical decision-makers and security teams to discuss and implement security solutions. - Maintain an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape and industry trends to better serve the company and advise customers. - Engage with prospects, cultivating lasting relationships as a trusted advisor who understands their unique challenges and needs. What we're looking for: - Proven experience (2+ years) as a Sales Engineer, Pre-Sales Engineer, or in a similar technical sales role, preferably with a focus on startup and midmarket clients. - Solid understanding and experience with sales methodologies such as MEDDPICC - Technical expertise in container technologies like Kubernetes, Docker, and serverless solutions. - Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and familiarity with cloud and containers security. - Previous experience in a startup environment, demonstrating flexibility and the ability to thrive under pressure. - Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively negotiate and build rapport with clients. - Strong team player with a commitment to ongoing learning - Must reside in the New York metro area OTE RANGE (based on experience/location): $157,000 - $185,000 Base Salary Range $110,000-$130,000 USD About Us We live and breathe our company values: - We are customer obsessed — We focus on delivering solutions to our customers that create value and make their lives better. - We have a bias for intentional action — We prioritize, plan, try things, and fail fast. - We don't take ourselves too seriously (but we do serious work) — We are solving an important problem which takes focus, but we also like to enjoy the journey. - We trust each other and assume good intentions — We're transparent with decisions to empower team members to make well informed decisions. A few of the benefits we offer: - Flexible & Remote-First Culture: Work remotely with team meetup opportunities, bi-annual destination summits, and a monthly stipend for coworking spaces, phone and internet costs. - Our Approach to Equity: Receive stock options upon hire and promotion. Plus, you can participate in secondary offerings and have 10 years to exercise your options (yes, you read that correctly: 10 years!). - 100% Covered Health Insurance: We cover 100% of your health, vision and dental insurance premiums for you and your dependents. Nothing comes out of your paycheck. - ∞ Flexible Time Off: Take the time you need – to do our best work, we need to recharge and reset. - 18 Weeks Paid Parental Leave: We offer 18 weeks for birthing parents and 12 weeks for non-birthing parents, with the option to use it all at once or throughout your child's first year. If your experience is close but doesn't fulfill all requirements, please apply. We're building the best team in technology and are focused on hiring "Chainguardians" with unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Chainguard is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Chainguard will process your personal data in accordance with Chainguard's Global Candidate Privacy Notice. ©2026 Chainguard. All Rights Reserved.
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