Latest AI JobsBrowse Jobs
Cohere logo

Senior Account Executive, Federal Defense and Intelligence

CohereWashington, DCRevenue
Apply on company site
Salary
$230K - $430K USD
Job type
Full-time
Work mode
Remote
Posted
27 Jul 2026
Status
Open · checked 9d ago

About this role

Role Overview

The Senior Account Executive position at Cohere in Washington, DC involves managing full sales cycles focused on Defense and Intelligence clients in the United States. This remote-friendly opportunity suits an experienced public sector sales professional with deep knowledge of national security markets.

Key Responsibilities

Spearhead net-new customer acquisition through targeted outbound strategies, senior leader engagement, and relationship building across US Federal Defense and Intelligence entities.
Formulate and execute comprehensive sales strategies for the U.S. Department of War, Combatant Commands, and related national security sectors.
Serve as a trusted advisor to government prospects, aligning AI platform capabilities with their mission objectives.
Collaborate closely with channel partners, Value-Added Resellers, distributors, and major system integrators to scale adoption.
Utilize executive-level relationships with government decision-makers to secure strategic, long-term partnerships.
Partner with Engineering and Product teams to ensure public-sector and enterprise needs influence the product roadmap.
Coordinate with Marketing and Sales Development Representatives to boost top-of-funnel pipeline growth.
Own the entire sales process, spanning discovery, business validation, proof-of-concept creation, procurement, and deal closure within a collaborative team environment.

Requirements

Minimum of 10 years of direct public sector sales experience within the U.S. Defense and Intelligence sectors, including a proven history of closing multi-million dollar annual quotas.
Comprehensive understanding of federal procurement workflows, decision-making processes, and distributor networks.
Established professional network throughout the D.C. metropolitan area, encompassing federal agencies, prime contractors, and related industry associations.
Background in selling SaaS, enterprise software, or AI/ML solutions to government customers.
High comfort level with ambiguity, functioning effectively as both a strategist and hands-on market builder.
Advanced organizational capabilities to handle multiple internal and external stakeholders during fast-moving sales cycles.
Strong technical acumen and creativity for structuring unique partnerships.
Exceptional communication skills tailored for both technical and non-technical senior decision-makers.
Residency in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, alongside a willingness to travel between 25% and 35% of the time.

Skills and Tools

Public sector sales
Federal procurement
SaaS and AI/ML solution selling
Enterprise account management
Outbound prospecting and pipeline generation
Strategic partnership development

Salary and Benefits

Annual base salary ranging from $230,000 to $430,000 USD.
Weekly lunch stipend alongside daily office lunch programs where applicable.
Comprehensive health and dental coverage, featuring a dedicated mental health budget.
Retirement savings options including 401(k), RRSP matching, and pension schemes.
Fully paid parental leave top-up of up to six months for either parent.
Annual enrichment benefits covering wellness, fitness, arts, culture, workspace improvement, and education or learning.
Generous paid time off of 30 working days (6 weeks) per year.
Travel budget for visiting other office locations and attending the annual company offsite.
Home office setup stipend of $500 for remote workers.

About the Company

Cohere operates as a security-first enterprise artificial intelligence company building cutting-edge foundation models and end-to-end products designed for real-world business challenges. Headquartered in Toronto, the organization maintains global offices in cities such as London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin, and Seoul.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the official Cohere careers page to submit their application for this role.

Questions candidates ask

What is the salary range for the Senior Account Executive role?

The annual base salary ranges from $230,000 to $430,000 USD, with actual compensation determined by experience, location, skills, and other job-related factors.

Where is the position located?

While the role is remote-friendly, candidates must be based in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, and be willing to travel 25% to 35% of the time.

What level of experience is required?

Applicants need 10 or more years of direct public sector sales experience within the U.S. Defense and Intelligence communities.

What benefits does Cohere offer to full-time employees?

Perks include health and dental coverage, a mental health budget, 401K/RRSP matching, a weekly lunch stipend, 6 weeks of paid vacation, parental leave top-up, learning stipends, and a home office setup budget.

How should I apply for this position?

Candidates should submit their applications directly through the official Cohere careers page.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Cohere careers page.

Apply on company site