Enterprise Account Executive - Chicago

Kong
Illinois, IL
Remote

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience selling into large enterprises with 5,000+ employees and thrive in a high-growth, fast-paced SaaS or infrastructure environment.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 7+ years of enterprise sales experience and a hunter mentality for new business.
    — “7+ years of enterprise sales experience, ideally selling into organizations with 5,000+ employees.”
  • Individuals who have successfully navigated complex sales cycles with C-level executives and multiple stakeholders.
    — “Experience selling to C-level executives and navigating multiple stakeholders.”
  • Those who have a strong background in SaaS, cloud, or infrastructure sales and can demonstrate consultative selling skills.
    — “Proven success closing complex, high-value deals within SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, or enterprise software.”

Things to consider

  • This role demands a high level of autonomy and ownership of the sales territory.
    — “Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and take ownership of your territory.”
  • The position involves working across multiple departments to deliver tailored solutions.
    — “Partner across Product, Marketing, Customer Success, and technical teams to deliver the right solutions for customers.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience in consultative selling and strategic account planning in your resume.
    — “Lead strategic account planning and identify new opportunities within enterprise accounts.”
  • Demonstrate your ability to build and maintain a strong pipeline with measurable results.
    — “Build and maintain a strong pipeline while consistently delivering against revenue targets.”
  • Showcase your experience with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms in your application materials.
    — “Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • driven new business and expansion across large enterprise accounts
  • achieved revenue targets
Typical background
7+ years of enterprise sales experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Enterprise SalesComplex Deal ClosingC-level Executive EngagementPipeline ManagementForecastingCRM Platform Usage

Preferred

ApisOpen SourceCloud Infrastructure

Stack & domain

SalesEnterprise Software

About the role

Original posting from Kong via Ashby

Are you ready to unlock intelligence?

If you don’t think you meet all of the criteria below but are still interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box - we’re looking for candidates that are particularly strong in a few areas, and have some interest and capabilities in others.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Kong is looking for an experienced Enterprise Account Executive to drive new business and expansion across large enterprise accounts. You’ll own the full sales cycle — from prospecting and pipeline generation through executive engagement, negotiation, and close.

This is an opportunity for a proven enterprise seller who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and knows how to navigate complex SaaS, cloud, or infrastructure sales.

At Kong, we offer uncapped commissions with significant upside, competitive benefits, and equity in a company with strong growth potential.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

  • Own the full enterprise sales cycle from prospecting through close and expansion.
  • Build and maintain a strong pipeline while consistently delivering against revenue targets.
  • Develop relationships with C-level executives and key decision-makers, becoming a trusted advisor.
  • Lead strategic account planning and identify new opportunities within enterprise accounts.
  • Partner across Product, Marketing, Customer Success, and technical teams to deliver the right solutions for customers.
  • Maintain accurate forecasting and pipeline management while staying ahead of market and competitive trends.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

  • 7+ years of enterprise sales experience, ideally selling into organizations with 5,000+ employees.
  • Proven success closing complex, high-value deals within SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, or enterprise software.
  • Strong new-logo/hunter mentality with experience building pipeline and expanding strategic accounts.
  • Experience selling to C-level executives and navigating multiple stakeholders.
  • Strong consultative selling, negotiation, forecasting, and account-planning skills.
  • Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.
  • Knowledge of APIs, open source, cloud, or infrastructure technology is a plus.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and take ownership of your territory.

BENEFITS & GROWTH AT KONG

  • Uncapped Earning & Equity: Competitive base compensation, uncapped commissions, and equity opportunities to share in our long-term growth.
  • Recognition & Rewards: Top performers earn a spot in our annual President’s Club.
  • Career Growth & Support: Structured onboarding, MEDDPICC training, ongoing enablement, and dedicated coaching.
  • Global Scale & Impact: Partner with enterprise customers across AMER, EMEA, and APJ as we shape the future of API and AI connectivity.
  • Award-Winning Culture: 4x Great Place To Work Certified™ (95% employee satisfaction).
  • Comprehensive Benefits: Health, wellness, retirement, parental leave, and generous time-off programs tailored by region.

Benefits, compensation, equity eligibility, and incentive programs may vary based on location and role.

Benefits, compensation, equity eligibility, incentive programs, and other offerings may vary based on location, role, and employment type.

About Kong:

Kong Inc., the AI Connectivity Company, is building the connectivity layer of AI. Trusted by the Fortune 500® and AI-native startups alike, Kong’s unified API and AI platform enables organizations to secure, manage, accelerate, govern, and monetize the flow of intelligence across APIs and AI traffic — on any model, any cloud. For more information, visit www.konghq.com http://www.konghq.com.

Source: Kong careers (Ashby)

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