Account Executive - FSI

Overview

This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a company that has been at the forefront of AI and high-performance data storage innovation for over two decades. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global market leader renowned for powering many of the world's most demanding AI data centers, in industries ranging from life sciences and healthcare to financial services, autonomous cars, Government, academia, research and manufacturing.

"DDN's A3I solutions are transforming the landscape of AI infrastructure." - IDC


"The real differentiator is DDN. I never hesitate to recommend DDN. DDN is the de facto name for AI Storage in high performance environments" - Marc Hamilton, VP, Solutions Architecture & Engineering | NVIDIA


DDN is the global leader in AI and multi-cloud data management at scale. Our cutting-edge data intelligence platform is designed to accelerate AI workloads, enabling organizations to extract maximum value from their data. With a proven track record of performance, reliability, and scalability, DDN empowers businesses to tackle the most challenging AI and data-intensive workloads with confidence.


Our success is driven by our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and a team of passionate professionals who bring their expertise and dedication to every project. This is a chance to make a significant impact at a company that is shaping the future of AI and data management.


Our commitment to innovation, customer success, and market leadership makes this an exciting and rewarding role for a driven professional looking to make a lasting impact in the world of AI and data storage.


Job Description

DDN is seeking a high-performing Account Executive to own and grow a territory of Financial Services Industry (FSI) accounts. This is a hunter role for someone with deep FSI relationships and a proven record of closing complex, high-value infrastructure deals. You will represent DDN's full portfolio of AI and HPC storage solutions - including EXAScaler, Infinia, and the DDN Enterprise AI HyperPOD - to quant desks, risk modelling teams, trading infrastructure groups, and enterprise AI/ML organizations within FSI.

You will be in front of end users and executives, owning the complete sales motion from prospecting to close. Most transactions involve channel and OEM partners, so strong partner relationships are essential. Travel is expected at 30-40% of the time.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive new logo and expansion revenue across an FSI territory through existing relationships, proactive prospecting, and partner leverage.
• Build and maintain a disciplined pipeline in Salesforce; forecast accurately and meet quarterly revenue commitments.
• Establish and deepen executive-level relationships (CTO, VP Infrastructure, Head of Quant/AI/ML) with a focus on business outcomes - GPU ROI, data pipeline efficiency, and infrastructure TCO.
• Lead complex, team-selling efforts with Solutions Engineers, DDN leadership, and channel/OEM partners to win competitive evaluations.
• Qualify opportunities rigorously using a structured framework (MEDDIC); invest deepest where Economic Buyers, clear pain, and Champions are in place.
• Respond to RFPs and customer proposals with compelling, outcome-driven narratives - clearly articulating DDN's throughput benchmarks, TCO advantages, and NVIDIA partnership credentials.
• Drive a territory strategy aligned to DDN's brand and go-to-market priorities; coordinate partner enablement and joint pipeline development.
• Manage post-sale relationships with a strategy to capture repeat business, reference customers, and case study opportunities.
• Represent DDN at industry events, FSI conferences, and trade shows to raise brand presence and develop pipeline.

WHAT YOU'LL SELL

You will carry DDN's full AI and HPC data infrastructure portfolio into FSI. Key solutions include:

• EXAScaler® - Lustre-based parallel file system delivering TB/s throughput for AI training, model checkpointing, and simulation workloads. #1 on MLPerf Storage v2.0.
• Infinia™ - AI-native S3-compatible object storage with 75x faster object listing, >1.1 TB/s model loading, and 100x performance advantage over legacy cloud object stores.
• DDN Enterprise AI HyperPOD - Turnkey AI factory combining DDN, Supermicro, and NVIDIA; from unboxing to production in hours. 10x throughput improvement, 60% lower TCO.

Key proof points to internalize: up to 25% more GPU productivity, 40-70% CAPEX reduction versus all-flash alternatives, 10x ROI in production deployments.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 6-8+ years of experience selling enterprise storage, data infrastructure, or HPC solutions, with consistent top-quartile quota attainment.
• Established FSI relationships with decision-makers in trading infrastructure, quant research, risk/analytics, or enterprise AI/ML functions.
• Demonstrated ability to independently originate, develop, and close large, complex transactions - including multi-party, channel-involved deals.
• Comfortable operating at the executive level, translating infrastructure capability into business and financial outcomes.
• Experience working with and through channel and OEM partners to extend territory reach and accelerate deal cycles.
• Proficiency with Salesforce for pipeline management, forecasting, and accurate record-keeping.
• Familiarity with DDN, HPC storage, AI infrastructure, or GPU compute ecosystems is a strong advantage.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.

CRITICAL SUCCESS COMPETENCIES

Originates and Develops Pipeline

Proactively uncovers new opportunities through network, partner engagement, and market intelligence. Consistently generates face-to-face meetings, tracks leads with discipline, and leverages relationships for introductions to Economic Buyers and technical Champions.

Qualifies with Rigor

Uses a structured qualification framework (MEDDIC) to assess fit before investing resources. Identifies Metrics, Economic Buyers, Decision Criteria, Decision Processes, Pain, and internal Champions early. Disqualifies poor-fit opportunities quickly and decisively.

Delivers Persuasive, Outcome-Led Presentations

Connects DDN's capabilities - throughput benchmarks, MLPerf results, NVIDIA certifications, TCO models - directly to each customer's business problems. Partners with Solutions Engineers to build technically credible, executive-level narratives. Closes case study and reference commitments post-sale.

Drives with Competitive Intelligence

Maintains current knowledge of the competitive landscape (VAST Data, WEKA, Pure Storage, legacy NAS vendors) and knows how to position DDN's advantages under evaluation. Redirects benchmark comparisons to IO500 10-node production and MLPerf Storage where DDN leads.

Champions the Customer Internally

Acts as the customer's advocate within DDN. Understands the customer's infrastructure strategy, GPU utilization goals, and AI roadmap - and mobilizes internal resources (SE, support, leadership) to meet their needs. Builds trust that translates into long-term, repeat business.

Adapts to Buyer Motivation

Reads the room. Adjusts communication and selling style to match the motivations of infrastructure architects, AI/ML leads, procurement teams, and C-suite buyers. Understands that channel partners, end users, and OEMs each have distinct drivers and negotiates accordingly.

Commits to Winning

Operates with a relentless drive toward results. Invests continuously in professional network, industry knowledge, and DDN product expertise. Receives feedback well and applies it rapidly. Sees work as a source of deep personal and professional satisfaction - and performs at that level

Base Salary Range: $150,000 - $170,000
In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for variable compensation (commission).

DDN

DDN has a very strong orientation towards these 4 characteristics and any successful employee will demonstrate these capabilities:


Self-Starter - Takes independent action to identify and solve problems. Seeks out relevant information needed to make decisions. Gets involved with new initiatives.


Success/Achievement Orientation - Delivers quality results consistently. Targets, achieves (or exceeds) measurable results. Sets challenging goals, focuses on critical priorities, and is accountable.


Problem Solving - Recognizes problems and responds with a systematic assessment that identifies and addresses cause of issue. Practical, realistic, and resourceful.


Innovative - Builds and improves key business processes that enhance the effectiveness of DDN. Generates new ideas, challenges the status quo, and solves problems creatively.

DataDirect Networks, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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