Sales Development Representative

About the role

Astronomer serves as the primary commercial entity supporting Astro, the premier DataOps platform engineered on top of Apache Airflow. In this capacity, you will serve as the essential bridge between our innovative technology and the data teams striving to scale their AI and analytics infrastructure. As a Sales Development Representative, you will be responsible for initiating high-value conversations, cultivating early-stage interest, and playing a role in the expansion of our global sales pipeline. This position is strategically designed to provide a comprehensive foundation for professional growth, offering a transparent and supported pathway toward an Account Executive role for high-performing individuals committed to mastering the art of enterprise sales.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Execute high-volume outbound prospecting initiatives utilizing email, cold calling, and strategic LinkedIn outreach to build a and predictable sales pipeline.
• Rigorously assess and qualify incoming leads based on budgetary alignment, organizational intent, and technical requirements to ensure they meet the criteria for Sales Qualified Leads (SQLs).
• Partner closely with internal marketing and sales leadership to refine messaging, optimize lead conversion strategies, and improve the overall efficacy of the sales funnel.
• sophisticated CRM systems and sales automation software to manage daily outreach activities, track prospect engagement, and maintain accurate records of all interactions.
• Cultivate a deep, expert-level understanding of the Astronomer value proposition, staying ahead of evolving industry trends and competitor movements to effectively articulate our unique market position.
• Consistently meet and exceed established performance metrics, including outreach volume, the number of qualified meetings scheduled, and overall conversion rates from prospect to opportunity.
• Conduct thorough research on target accounts to personalize outreach efforts, ensuring that every communication is relevant and addresses the specific pain points of data engineering teams.
• Participate in regular sales training sessions and team meetings to share best practices, discuss market feedback, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our sales methodology.
• Manage your individual territory or list of accounts with a high degree of autonomy, ensuring that no potential opportunity is overlooked during the qualification process.
• Provide actionable feedback to the product and marketing teams based on real-world prospect interactions to help shape the future development of the Astro platform.

Requirements

• A minimum of 1 year of professional experience in B2B outbound prospecting, business development, or full-cycle sales, including relevant internship experience.
• A demonstrated ability to distill and explain complex, highly technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a focus on crafting professional, persuasive, and concise outreach materials.
• A high degree of resilience, self-motivation, and a positive mindset when navigating the challenges of cold outreach and handling rejection.
• A firm commitment to working from our New York City office location at least 4 days per week to foster collaboration and team culture.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and follow-up sequences in a fast-paced environment.
• A results-oriented mindset with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding individual performance goals and quotas.

Nice to have

• Prior experience selling complex software solutions to technical decision-makers, such as CTOs, data engineers, or analytics leads.
• Existing familiarity with the data engineering or analytics ecosystem, with specific knowledge of Apache Airflow being a distinct advantage.
• Practical, hands-on experience utilizing modern sales technology stacks, including LinkedIn Sales Navigator, HubSpot, Salesforce, or various sales automation platforms.
• A background in high-growth SaaS environments where rapid iteration and pipeline development are central to the company's success.

Skills & tools

• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• LinkedIn Sales Navigator
• Sales automation platforms
• Apache Airflow
• B2B outbound prospecting

Practical notes

a hybrid position that requires a consistent presence of 4 days per week on-site at our New York City headquarters. Astronomer is an equal opportunity employer; we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. All applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of their background, as we believe that a diverse team is essential to building the best possible data platform for our global user base.