Account Executive, Federal

Job Description

Job Description

Sonatype is the software supply chain security company. We provide the world’s best end-to-end software supply chain security solution, combining the only proactive protection against malicious open source, the only enterprise grade SBOM management and the leading open source dependency management platform. This empowers enterprises to create and maintain secure, quality, and innovative software at scale.

As founders of Nexus Repository and stewards of Maven Central, the world’s largest repository of Java open-source software, we are software pioneers and our open source expertise is unmatched. We empower innovation with an unparalleled commitment to build faster, safer software and harness AI and data intelligence to mitigate risk, maximize efficiencies, and drive powerful software development.

More than 2,000 organizations, including 70% of the Fortune 100 and 15 million software developers, rely on Sonatype to optimize their software supply chains.

The Account Executive, Federal exists to accelerate net-new logo acquisition, run high-velocity transactional sales cycles, and secure land-and-expand revenue footprints within highly specialized government ecosystems. 

This role serves as the premier entry point into a full quota-bearing Account Executive career path at Sonatype. This position demands an exceptionally high operational cadence, managing an expansive volume of high-velocity deals ranging typically from $5,000 to $25,000 ARR.

Federal Track: Based in the Washington, DC Metro Area, focusing on civilian agencies, defense nodes, and federal systemic frameworks.

The role requires a relentless pipeline builder who thrives on high-activity volumes, proactively prospecting raw leads, responding rapidly to active inbound signals, navigating public procurement mechanisms (RFIs, RFPs, formal bid work), and collaborating deeply with channel distribution networks and fulfillment partners to close business smoothly.

Who you are:

• Transition Ready Agility: Demonstrated success within a high-performing Business Development Representative (BDR) or Inside Sales role, showing a clear readiness to own a full quota and close business directly.

• High-Velocity Stamina: Exceptional organizational skills and psychological resilience; comfortable managing 30+ active deal cycles concurrently without losing execution quality.

• Public Sector Structural Aptitude: Foundational understanding of public procurement concepts (e.g., FAR, agency purchasing schedules, or state-specific contracting vehicles) or a rapid aptitude to learn them.

• Value-Focused Communication: Ability to articulate complex Application Security Testing (AST) and SBOM compliance regulations in a clear, business-value manner to technical users and purchasing buyers.

• Collaborative Execution Mindset: Highly skilled at working cross-functionally with pre-sales engineering, legal, channel partners, and regional field marketing teams.

Role Outcomes:

• Success in this role looks like:

  • Pipeline Generation Self-Sufficiency: Rather than relying solely on inbound marketing or external generation, you proactively discover, cultivate, and advance your own outbound pipeline through continuous territory prospecting.

  • Velocity & Transactional Mastery: You maintain a balanced, high-volume deal portfolio, managing short sales cycles cleanly from initial engagement to close-won status while keeping your average transaction velocity high.

  • Procurement Execution Excellence: Public sector buying parameters—including RFIs, RFPs, and formal agency bid responses—are navigated accurately and delivered ahead of deadlines, maximizing our inclusion on critical contract vehicles.

  • Ecosystem Partner Harmonization: Channel partners, regional distributors (e.g., Carahsoft), and local fulfillment networks are activated seamlessly to accelerate transactions, clear procurement hurdles, and expand Sonatype's market footprint.

  You will be successful when:

  • Your quarterly net-new logo and ARR quotas are met or exceeded with high predictability, avoiding end-of-quarter target clustering.

  • Sales tech stack data hygiene (Salesforce, Clari) is maintained flawlessly, reflecting accurate deal staging, realistic close dates, and clear buyer validation metrics.

  • Your prospecting activity metrics manifest as real, qualified pipeline velocity rather than unverified outward motions.

Role:

• Full-Cycle Territory Ownership: Prospect, qualify, advance, and close high-velocity transaction flows within your assigned territory framework (Federal DC Metro or Central SLED).

• High-Volume Cadence Management: Maintain a high daily volume of outbound touches (calls, emails, social outreach) to uncover latent application security needs inside target agencies.

• Bid & Proposal Execution: Lead the internal orchestration and timely drafting of technical and commercial responses to public RFIs, RFPs, and agency solicitations.

• Channel Alliance Alignment: Partner closely with regional channel accounts, systems integrators, and distribution partners to track registrations and secure transactional closure.

• Value-Based Discovery Demonstrations: Conduct precise technical-commercial discoveries, positioning Sonatype’s automated software supply chain protection as a non-negotiable compliance standard.

• Forecast Guardrail Maintenance: Protect territory forecasting hygiene through meticulous milestone updates inside our GTM execution platforms.

What we are proud of:

• Visionary in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Application Security Testing
• 2025 DEVIES Award to our SBOM Manager new product for its innovation and impact in developer technology
• 2024 Industry Leader in Forrester-Wave for Software Composition Analysis (2024 Q4 report)
• 2023 Fast Company Best Places for Innovators
• 2023 Gartner's Magic Quadrant
• 2023 Software Report's Top 100 Software Companies
• 2023 BuiltIn Best Places to Work
• 2022 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Leader Award
• 2022 PeerSpot Silver Peer Award in Software Composition Analysis
• 2022 Tech Ascension Best DevOps Security Solution Award
• 2022 NVCT Cyber Company of the Year
• Company Wellness Week - We shut down company operations for a week to enable all employees to pursue personal growth and enjoy a much-needed and deserved rest. 
• Paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO)

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At Sonatype, we value diversity and inclusivity. We offer perks such as parental leave, diversity and inclusion working groups, and flexible working practices to allow our employees to show up as their whole selves. We are an equal-opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us know.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.