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Full-Time

VP Datacenter Sales

Posted on 10/22/2024

Lightmatter

Lightmatter

51-200 employees

Develops photonic supercomputers for AI tasks

Automotive & Transportation
Hardware
AI & Machine Learning

Compensation Overview

$300k - $400kAnnually

Senior, Expert

Mountain View, CA, USA

Flexible, hybrid workplace model.

Category
Strategic Account Management
Sales & Account Management
Requirements
  • Bachelor's or master’s degree in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering
  • MUST have 15+ years of Hyperscale/Datacenter system and/or semiconductor sales experience
  • 5+ years of sales experience AI/HPC/Network/Interconnect
  • Demonstrable track record of revenue growth and ability to close greenfield opportunities
  • Experience managing $100M+ contract negotiations and agreements
  • Positive track record call on Top 10 US datacenter accounts
  • History of working with internal Product and Engineering teams to drive engagements to closure
  • Strong team-centric attitude and a team growth mindset
  • Demonstrable record of process oriented to navigate and close deals with large, complex corporations
  • Must be able to travel ~20% of the time
Responsibilities
  • Full ownership of target customers; you are the 'CEO' of the accounts and the authoritative link between them and Lightmatter
  • Ability to drive strong, technical sales conversations that uncover core motivators for customer decision-making, as well as overlay Lightmatter solutions to address those needs.
  • Strong understanding of AI data center infrastructure, key performance metrics based on current AI workload/application trends, Hyperscaler TCO analysis methodology, and infrastructure procurement + deployment lifecycle
  • Leverage strong communication skills and close relationships with your Lightmatter support team to drive agreements to closure.
  • Provide input as the ‘voice of the customer’ into Lightmatter’s go-to-market strategy.
  • Drive the long-term success of the US Enterprise and Datacenter team by being a collaborative leader among your peers. Constantly striving to improve and expand your capability and skills, as well as supporting your team for the same.
  • Understand the selling/buying cycle within the target customer space and ensure Lightmatter is in sync with customer demand.
  • Provide insights into customer demand and deployment timing and work with the finance team on predicting revenue ramp.
  • Entrepreneurial attitude with a high level of business acumen, with the ability to regularly interact with C-level through engineering at the world’s largest semi and systems companies.
  • Strong presentation skills; must be able to concisely and accurately convey key aspects of Lightmatter’s value proposition in an impactful manner.

Lightmatter develops photonic supercomputers that use light for processing, significantly enhancing the speed and energy efficiency of computing tasks. Their technology is particularly aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) applications, achieving a tenfold increase in processing speed while consuming 90% less energy than traditional electronic processors. Lightmatter collaborates with prestigious institutions like Harvard and Boston University to improve electro-photonic systems, especially for autonomous vehicles. Unlike competitors that rely solely on electronic processing, Lightmatter's focus on photonic computing sets it apart in the high-tech market. The company's goal is to provide advanced computing solutions that meet the growing demands of industries such as AI and self-driving cars, generating revenue through hardware sales, software licenses, and strategic partnerships.

Company Stage

Series C

Total Funding

$422.2M

Headquarters

Boston, Massachusetts

Founded

2017

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

27%

1 year growth

51%

2 year growth

84%
Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • The $155M in new funding will accelerate Lightmatter's growth and expand its photonic chip deployments, potentially leading to significant advancements in AI hardware.
  • Strong investor support from industry giants like Google Ventures and Hewlett Packard Enterprise provides financial stability and strategic partnerships.
  • Lightmatter's innovative photonic AI hardware positions it at the forefront of next-generation computing technologies, offering employees the chance to work on groundbreaking projects.

What critics are saying

  • The nascent stage of photonic computing technology could lead to unforeseen technical challenges and slower market adoption.
  • High expectations from substantial funding and a $1.2B valuation may pressure the company to deliver rapid results, potentially leading to operational strain.

What makes Lightmatter unique

  • Lightmatter focuses on photonic computing, a cutting-edge technology that uses light for data processing, offering significant speed and energy efficiency advantages over traditional electronic chips.
  • The company's strong backing from prominent investors like GV, HPE, and Lockheed Martin underscores its credibility and potential in the highly competitive tech landscape.
  • Lightmatter's valuation at $1.2B and substantial funding rounds highlight its rapid growth and market confidence in its innovative approach.

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