Dev Growth Lead (Sales Manager)

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Dev Growth Lead (Sales Manager)

🔹 Company: Runware

🔹 Location: United States (Remote)

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Software Development

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-14

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: Remote Solely

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Identifying and engaging AI-native SaaS companies
• Qualifying and converting high-value enterprise opportunities
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive sales
• Developing sales processes and managing a small sales pod

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of AI and developer workflows, as well as proven sales experience in a similar environment.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Identify and engage AI-native SaaS companies, creative tools, and platforms using AI-generated media.

✅ Qualify inbound interest from high-volume users and enterprise trials, turning usage into committed contracts.

✅ Drive outbound outreach with clear technical differentiation, cost-efficiency, model flexibility, and developer ease of use.

✅ Re-engage previously cold leads and leads showing post-traction engagement.

✅ Collaborate with the founding team to manage strategic accounts and tailor proposals for enterprise use cases.

✅ Build lightweight sales materials and coordinate demos, usage analysis, and integration scoping.

✅ Manage and support a small sales pod of two team members (Developer Success and Business Development), helping align focus and scale results.

✅ Partner with PMM and DevRel to align on use case messaging and developer-focused enablement.

✅ Capture feedback from customer conversations to help shape roadmap, pricing, and onboarding.

✅ Develop repeatable sales processes as the motion scales—lightweight CRM workflows, pipeline reporting, qualification criteria.

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a significant amount of outreach and collaboration with various teams, requiring strong communication and organizational skills.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience

Experience: 7+ years of experience in B2B sales, ideally in a dev tools, infrastructure, or ML/AI platform environment

Required Skills:

• Proven success closing technical or integration-heavy deals
• Strong storytelling and solution-mapping ability
• Familiarity with APIs, developer workflows, and usage-based pricing models
• Comfortable working founder-side in early-stage sales
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills
• Experience using CRM tools like HubSpot
• Capable of tailoring outreach to startups, scale-ups, and product/platform teams across verticals

Preferred Skills:

• Background in solutions engineering, partnerships, or technical consulting

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong sales background and a solid understanding of AI and developer workflows will be most successful in this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $180,000 per year (Based on industry standards for a Sales Manager role with 7+ years of experience in a similar environment)

Benefits:

• Generous paid time off
• Meaningful stock options
• Remote-first setup
• Flexible hours
• Family leave
• Company retreats

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible hours outside of core collaboration blocks

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Software Development, specifically AI-as-a-Service and GenAI API

Company Size: 11-50 employees (Remote-first collective)

Founded: 2023

Company Description:

• Runware is the fastest AI-as-a-Service platform for media generation
• Delivers real-time inference at 5–10 × lower cost than competitors
• Purpose-built for speed & efficiency: custom GPU design, server setup, and datacenter architecture
• Backed by Insight Partners, a16z Speedrun, Begin Capital, and Zero Prime

Company Specialties:

• GenAI
• AI infrastructure
• AI-as-a-Service
• GenAI API

Company Website: runware.ai

ASSUMPTION: Runware is a fast-growing startup focused on providing a high-speed, cost-efficient AI-as-a-Service platform for media generation.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid- to Senior-level Sales Manager role

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the founding team and manages a small sales pod

Work Arrangement: Remote solely, with core hours for cooperative working and calls

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to shape the sales playbook and processes
• Opportunity to manage and grow a sales team
• Exposure to a fast-growing AI startup environment

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential as Runware continues to expand and scale its AI-as-a-Service platform.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Remote-first collective, with twice-yearly in-person gatherings

Office Location(s): Anywhere (Remote)

Geographic Context:

• Runware is headquartered in San Francisco but operates remotely
• Employees can work from anywhere with an internet connection
• Company retreats are held in inspiring locations

Work Schedule: Flexible hours outside of core collaboration blocks, with real downtime after big pushes

ASSUMPTION: Runware's remote-first work environment offers flexibility and the opportunity to work from anywhere.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Initial screening call to assess sales experience and understanding of AI
• Technical deep dive to discuss AI and developer workflows
• Final round with the founding team to discuss fit and next steps

Key Assessment Areas:

• Sales experience and track record
• Understanding of AI and developer workflows
• Communication and storytelling skills
• Cultural fit with Runware's remote-first collective

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant sales experience and any familiarity with AI or developer workflows
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your understanding of the role and Runware's mission
• Prepare for technical questions about AI and developer workflows

ATS Keywords: B2B Sales, Technical Storytelling, Integration, APIs, Developer Workflows, Usage-Based Pricing, CRM Tools, Outbound Outreach, Sales Process Development, Communication Skills, Sales Management, Account Management, Collaboration, Feedback Capture, Sales Playbook Development, Strategic Outreach

ASSUMPTION: Runware's interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's sales experience, understanding of AI, and cultural fit with the company's remote-first collective.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• CRM tools like HubSpot
• Sales engagement platforms (e.g., SalesLoft, Outreach)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)

ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies used may vary depending on the candidate's preferences and Runware's existing tech stack.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Collaboration
• Innovation
• Customer-centricity
• Integrity

Work Style:

• Remote-first and autonomous
• Fast-paced and intense release cycles
• Focus on results and impact

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a remote, autonomous work environment?
• Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, intense release cycle?
• Do you have a strong understanding of AI and developer workflows?

ASSUMPTION: Runware values candidates who are self-directed, lightning-quick to learn, and rock-solid reliable, with a strong understanding of AI and developer workflows.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Working in a fast-paced, early-stage startup environment
• Managing a small sales pod and aligning focus
• Developing sales processes and workflows from scratch
• Balancing remote work and collaboration with a distributed team

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome by strong communication, organization, and a willingness to adapt and learn in a fast-changing environment.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike traditional sales roles, this position focuses on technical storytelling and strategic outreach rather than quota-chasing
• Runware's remote-first collective offers flexibility and the opportunity to work from anywhere
• This role offers significant growth potential as Runware continues to expand and scale its AI-as-a-Service platform

ASSUMPTION: This role is well-suited to candidates with a strong sales background and a solid understanding of AI and developer workflows, who thrive in a startup environment.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a sales playbook for engaging AI-native SaaS companies
• Managing strategic accounts and tailoring proposals for enterprise use cases
• Building lightweight sales materials and coordinating demos, usage analysis, and integration scoping

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are representative of the day-to-day responsibilities and tasks associated with this role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does Runware differentiate its AI-as-a-Service platform from competitors?
• What are the key challenges facing the sales team in the next 6-12 months?
• How does Runware support the professional development and growth of its employees?
• What is the company's long-term vision for the sales team and its role in Runware's growth?
• How does Runware balance the need for intense release cycles with employee well-being and work-life balance?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the company, and the team they will be joining.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant sales experience and understanding of AI and developer workflows
• Prepare for technical questions about AI and developer workflows
• Follow up with the hiring manager after submitting your application

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.