At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive revenue growth and market dominance for F5’s innovative AI solutions.
- Company: Join a leading tech company focused on creating a better digital world.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI technology and make a real impact in the industry.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in enterprise sales with a proven track record in SaaS or AI.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation. Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive.
The Principal Account Executive – BNK Strategic AI Solutions is a senior, quota-carrying sales leader responsible for driving revenue growth, pipeline expansion, and market dominance for F5’s BNK speedboat initiative. In this high-visibility role, you will lead complex, end-to-end sales cycles targeting high-growth accounts, including NeoCloud providers, GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) platforms, strategic enterprise accounts, and AI infrastructure partners.
You will act as the primary commercial owner for BNK—positioning F5’s application delivery, Kubernetes, and AI infrastructure solutions to executive decision-makers (CXOs, VPs of Infrastructure/AI). Combining sharp commercial execution, strategic account planning, and deep market expertise across AI and cloud-native ecosystems, you will land new logos, expand existing footprints, and establish F5 as the preferred app delivery platform for AI workloads.
Key Responsibilities- Revenue Ownership & Territory Growth
- Own and exceed annual and quarterly revenue quotas (ARR/TCV) by closing high-value, complex transactions across strategic accounts and emerging AI markets.
- Build, qualify, and manage a robust, multi-quarter sales pipeline through targeted prospecting, executive networking, and strategic ecosystem partnerships.
- Lead end-to-end commercial negotiations, contract structuring, pricing strategies, and procurement processes to maximize total contract value and closing speed.
- Executive Deal Leadership & Account Strategy
- Establish and cultivate trusted relationships with C-suite executives, VPs of Engineering, Heads of Infrastructure, and Chief AI Officers.
- Articulate the strategic business value, ROI, and competitive differentiation of F5’s BNK solutions for AI-native application delivery, Kubernetes scaling, and GPUaaS performance.
- Construct comprehensive account strategies and territory plans to systematically penetrate targeted accounts and outmaneuver legacy competitors.
- Market Commercialization & Ecosystem Expansion
- Drive market adoption of the BNK platform within emerging NeoCloud and GPU-as-a-Service ecosystems.
- Partner with strategic AI ecosystem vendors, cloud providers, and channel partners to co-sell and drive high-margin joint pipeline.
- Leverage field insights and win/loss analysis to collaborate with Product, GTM, and Marketing teams, shaping commercial pricing models, packaging, and go-to-market strategies.
- Cross-Functional Sales Execution
- Orchestrate dedicated cross-functional deal teams—including Strategic Sales Engineers, Solutions Architects, Product Managers, and Executive Sponsors—to drive unified customer pursuits.
- Partner with Customer Success and Post-Sales Engineering to ensure successful deployment, high customer retention, and long-term account expansion (land-and-expand strategy).
- Required Experience & Track Record
- Proven Enterprise Sales Success: 8+ years of experience as a top-performing enterprise Account Executive / Commercial Leader in SaaS, Cloud Infrastructure, Networking, Application Delivery, or AI/ML software environments.
- Consistent Quota Attainment: Demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding $2M+ annual quotas, closing multi-hundred-thousand to seven-figure deals.
- Domain & Ecosystem Expertise: Strong commercial understanding of modern cloud infrastructure, Kubernetes, GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), AI software frameworks, and application delivery.
- Executive Presence & Selling: Mastery of value-based, consultative selling methodologies (e.g., MEDDPICC, Challenger) with a proven ability to close deals at the CXO/VP level.
- Core Competencies
- Deal Structuring & Closing: Advanced negotiation skills and business acumen to navigate complex enterprise procurement and legal processes.
- Strategic Account Management: Ability to map complex enterprise organizations, identify economic buyers, and construct winning account strategies.
- Commercial Agility: Thrives in a fast-paced, startup-like ("speedboat") environment with a high bias for action, urgency, and resourcefulness.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Exceptional team leadership skills to marshal technical and executive resources behind high-value opportunities.
- Success Metrics / KPIs
- Quota Attainment: Annual and quarterly achievement against ARR and TCV revenue targets.
- Pipeline Generation & Velocity: Growth of qualified pipeline (3x-4x coverage) and average sales cycle speed.
- New Logo Acquisition: Successful acquisition and onboarding of strategic accounts (NeoClouds, GPUaaS, Large Enterprise AI adopters).
- Average Deal Value (TCV): Ability to expand deal scope and attach multi-product BNK solutions.
- Forecast Accuracy: Reliable, predictable monthly and quarterly forecasting.
The Job Description is intended to be a general representation of the responsibilities and requirements of the job. However, the description may not be all-inclusive, and responsibilities and requirements are subject to change.
Please note that F5 only contacts candidates through F5 email address (ending with @f5.com) or auto email notification from Workday (ending with f5.com or @myworkday.com).
Equal Employment OpportunityIt is the policy of F5 to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. F5 offers a variety of reasonable accommodations for candidates. Requesting an accommodation is completely voluntary. F5 will assess the need for accommodations in the application process separately from those that may be needed to perform the job. Request by contacting accommodations@f5.com.
Principal Account Executive in London employer: F5 Networks
F5 is an exceptional employer that prioritises a diverse and inclusive work culture, empowering employees to thrive in a collaborative environment. With a strong focus on professional growth, F5 offers extensive training opportunities and the chance to work alongside industry experts in a highly technical field. Located in a vibrant area, employees benefit from a dynamic workplace that fosters innovation and creativity while contributing to meaningful cybersecurity solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Account Executive in London
✨Leverage Your Network
In sales and business development, who you know can often be as important as what you know. Get involved with local networking events or industry meetups to connect with key players. Don't be shy—share your passion for the field and let folks know you're on the lookout for opportunities!
✨Show Your Skills Through Real-World Results
When targeting a full-time role like Principal Account Executive at F5 Networks, presenting tangible results from your previous sales experience can set you apart. Bring along case studies or examples of how you've closed deals or expanded accounts, and don't forget to showcase your problem-solving prowess. It’s all about quantifying your success!
✨Engage with Sales Communities
Dive deep into online sales communities, like Sales Hacker or LinkedIn groups dedicated to sales professionals. Engaging in discussions and sharing insights can boost your visibility and might just put you on the radar of hiring managers looking for fresh talent in business development.
✨Direct Applications Matter
While we all know the online application route, consider sending direct applications to companies you admire, including F5 Networks. Tailor your message to explain why you’re drawn to them and how you can contribute as a Principal Account Executive. Sometimes, a personal touch can grab attention faster than a generic application!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Account Executive in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Those Sales Skills:In your CV and cover letter, highlight any previous sales or business development experience you have. Use numbers and examples to showcase your achievements – did you exceed sales targets or bring in new clients? Make those accomplishments shine!
Tailor Your Message for F5 Networks:When writing your cover letter, make sure to tailor your message specifically for F5 Networks. Show that you know the company’s mission and how your skills align with their goals in the sales landscape. This personalised touch will grab their attention!
Keep It Professional Yet Engaging:Sales is all about relationships, so while you want to maintain professionalism in your application, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Engage the reader and demonstrate your enthusiastic approach to sales and business development!
Proof of Performance:Include any relevant certifications or training you’ve undertaken in sales or negotiation tactics. If you’ve attended workshops or courses, list these to showcase your commitment to professional development. This extra touch can set you apart from the competition!
How to prepare for a job interview at F5 Networks
✨Know Your Sales Methodologies
Brush up on popular sales methodologies like SPIN Selling or Challenger Sales. Being able to discuss these techniques and how you've applied them will show F5 Networks that you understand the role and can hit the ground running in the sales game.
✨Demonstrate Your Deal-Making Skills
Prepare to share stories from your past experiences where you closed deals, overcame objections, or started new client relationships. We want to show F5 Networks that you’re not just about numbers but also about building lasting connections in business development.
✨Prepare for Role-Play Scenarios
In a full-time sales interview, don’t be surprised if they throw in a role-play exercise to test your pitching skills. Practising how you would pitch a product or handle an objection will help us shine in this simulation—think of it like a dress rehearsal for your future sales calls!
✨Align Your Goals with the Company’s Vision
Take a moment to reflect on how your career ambitions align with F5 Networks’s objectives. When we articulate how our personal growth ties in with the company’s goals, it shows commitment and a genuine interest in contributing to their success.
