Director of Sales

Cognichip Inc.
Cognichip Inc.

Sales & Business Development

Redwood City, CA, USA

Posted on Oct 16, 2026
**Job Title** Director of Sales **Director of Sales** We are looking for an exceptional, technically proficient professional at the intersection of AI, semiconductors, and enterprise sales. This is a dynamic, self-motivated leader who can cultivate strategic relationships with C-suite executives and R&D leaders at major semiconductor companies. They are passionate about evangelizing the value of AI in chip design and possess a proven ability to lead and close complex, multi-million dollar software deals. They thrive in cross-functional teams and communication comes naturally to them, effortlessly translating deep technical concepts into compelling business value. **Key Responsibilities** - Drive Strategic Account Penetration: Identify, prioritize, and penetrate ideal-fit accounts within the semiconductor industry, leveraging existing relationships with key decision-makers (CTOs, VPs of Engineering, R&D Directors). - Define & Deliver Complex Solution Selling: Lead the entire enterprise sales cycle, which often involves long sales cycles and multiple stakeholders, from initial qualification to negotiation and deal closure. - Cross-Functional Leadership (Technical Consultation & PoCs): Act as a trusted advisor in the AI and chip design space, guiding customers through their AI adoption journey. Collaborate with pre-sales engineering teams to manage technical demonstrations and successful proof-of-concepts (PoCs). - Establish & Analyze Metrics for Success (Pipeline Management): Drive disciplined pipeline management, provide accurate sales forecasts to executive leadership, and ensure efficient use of resources. - Champion AI Innovation (Value Proposition & ROI Crafting): Articulate the comprehensive technical and business value of our AI solutions, co-building strong ROI cases that address core client pain points like time-to-market acceleration and cost reduction. Partner closely with Product Management and Engineering teams to ensure customer feedback is integrated into the product roadmap. **Required Qualifications** - Experience: A minimum of 10 years of experience selling complex, high-value software solutions (ideally Electronic Design Automation/EDA or AI software) or Intellectual Property (IP) products to the semiconductor or related advanced technology industries. - Industry Network: A strong, existing network of contacts and proven relationships within fabless R&D organization and major integrated device manufacturers (IDMs). - Technical Acumen: Deep understanding of semiconductor design workflows and the application of AI/Machine Learning within the design lifecycle. - Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a similar technical field is highly desirable). - Skills: Exceptional complex solution selling and negotiation skills, and the ability to translate deep technical concepts into clear business value for C-suite decision-makers. Proficiency with CRM software and sales analytics tools. **Additional Notes** (Any other relevant information) - Hands-on chip design or EDA application engineering experience (e.g. as an FAE) is a plus. - Prior experience in Market & Competitive Intelligence, continuously monitoring industry trends to adjust sales strategies and inform product development. - Demonstrated history of closing multi-million dollar software deals in the EDA space.