Vice President of Sales - North America

About Us

Axelera AI is not your regular deep-tech startup. We are creating the next-generation AI platform to support anyone who wants to help advancing humanity and improve the world around us.

In just three years, we have raised a total of $120 million and have built a world-class team of 180+ employees (including 55+ PhDs with more than 40,000 citations), both remotely from 11 different countries and with offices in Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, the UK, headquartered at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

We have also launched our Metis™ AI Platform, which achieves a 3-5x increase in efficiency and performance, and have visibility into a strong business pipeline exceeding $100 million.

Our unwavering commitment to innovation has firmly established us as a global industry pioneer. To accelerate our momentum in North America, we are seeking a seasoned Vice President of Sales to drive substantial revenue growth, forge strategic partnerships, and build a world-class sales organization. 

Are you up for the challenge?

Position Overview

The Vice President of Sales at Axelera AI will play a key role in shaping our North American sales strategy, transforming company goals into dynamic go-to-market plans that drive revenue growth. We’re looking for a collaborative B2B sales leader with a strong background in hardware sales—ideally in computing or related fields—and a talent for closing complex deals. Familiarity with machine learning or AI would be a valuable asset in this role.

This executive will focus on nurturing high-impact customer relationships, leading strategic business development efforts, and positioning Axelera AI as a leader in AI-powered semiconductor solutions. This is an opportunity for a results-oriented sales executive with experience in driving rapid revenue growth within a startup or small to medium-sized company. We're looking for a strategic, motivated leader who can elevate our business, build influential partnerships, and deliver lasting success in competitive markets.

Key responsibilities:

• Revenue Growth and Expansion:
  Lead revenue growth through strategic B2B negotiations, emphasizing hardware sales to enterprise clients. Take a hands-on approach in securing impactful deals and increasing market share.

• Building Strategic Partnerships:
  Identify and foster relationships with key players in the AI, semiconductor, and tech ecosystems. Position Axelera AI as the preferred partner for next-gen AI hardware solutions, creating value-driven partnerships.

• Visionary Sales Leadership:
  As a core member of the executive team, contribute to the sales vision for North America. Develop and align sales strategies with company objectives to drive market growth and influence the company’s trajectory.

• Empowering Sales Team Leadership:
  Build and nurture a high-performing sales team. Recruit, mentor, and support top sales talent to meet ambitious growth targets. Cultivate a team environment that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous growth.

• Expanding Market Reach:
  Develop and execute market expansion strategies, using industry insights to uncover and act on new opportunities. Lead initiatives that enhance Axelera AI’s presence and impact across North America.

• Cross-functional Executive Collaboration:
  Work closely with product, marketing, and customer success teams to ensure alignment between sales strategies and broader company objectives. Play an active role in shaping product roadmaps and go-to-market strategies, ensuring a cohesive approach to growth and customer success.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of progressive B2B sales leadership experience, with a proven history in hardware sales, ideally within the computer or related industries.

• Proven success in closing complex, multi-million dollar deals and driving revenue growth across North America.

• Experience in AI, machine learning, or related technologies is a valuable plus.

• Strong background in building and leading high-performing sales teams, especially within enterprise sales and strategic partnership development.

• Established network and industry connections within AI, semiconductor, and broader technology ecosystems.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, bringing an executive presence and the ability to foster positive relationships.

• Comfortable and adaptable in high-growth, fast-paced environments with a proactive approach to challenges.

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Location

We are primarily looking for candidates based in or near the San Francisco Bay Area, as this role requires close collaboration with strategic partners and clients in the region.

What we offer 

• A competitive compensation package between $350,000 - $450,000 and a significant stock option plan to ensure that your contributions are recognized and rewarded equitably.

• Benefits: 401(k) plan; Medical, Dental and Vision coverage.

• Opportunity to lead in a high-impact role, driving the growth of a cutting-edge AI platform company. 

• A dynamic, innovative, and collaborative culture that fosters personal and professional growth. 

At Axelera AI, we wholeheartedly embrace equal opportunity and hold diversity in the highest regard. Our steadfast commitment is to cultivate a warm and inclusive environment that empowers and celebrates every member of our team. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to join us in shaping the future of AI.