About this Sales Development Representative role at Lightning AI
Who We Are
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 Work
The 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.
What We're Looking For
We are seeking a driven, goal-oriented, and quick-learning Sales Development Representative (SDR) to join our team. In this role, you'll be at the forefront of generating new business opportunities by engaging with prospective clients and building a robust sales pipeline. You'll work closely with the team to identify, qualify, and nurture leads, ensuring a seamless handoff to our account executives. This will be an outbound role with a heavy emphasis on prospecting.
This role is based out of our New York City office, with an in-office requirement of at least 4 days per week and occasional team and company offsites.
What You’ll Do
- Become an expert on our sales process with an in-depth understanding of our target markets, value proposition, and pricing models to not only meet but exceed both quarterly and annual goals.
- Focus on high-quality, consistent outbound prospecting across all market segments to build the sales pipeline and optimize the customer funnel.
- Qualify and develop outbound sales leads.
- Collaborate with the sales and marketing teams to build and optimize email campaigns with targeted messaging for specific user personas and improve the lead qualification process.
- Analyze industry trends and customer segmentation to identify and capitalize on new sources of qualified leads.
- Utilize a CRM system to track activity and manage sales opportunities.
What You’ll Need
- 1-3 years of experience in sales development, business development, or a similar role, preferably within the tech or AI industry.
- Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets through outbound prospecting and lead generation efforts.
- Strong understanding of sales processes and CRM tools (experience with Salesforce or HubSpot is a plus).
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to craft persuasive messaging and build rapport with prospective clients.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Self-motivated and driven, with a passion for learning and continuous improvement.
- Team-oriented mindset, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, and customer success.
- A goal-oriented attitude, with a strong desire to grow within a dynamic, high-growth company.
Compensation
The base salary range for this role is $60,000-$80,000, in addition to a variable component and meaningful equity.
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.
Benefits and Perks
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.
