Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Manager

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Sonatype

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Engage customers to drive success and adoption of our innovative software solutions.
  • Company: Join Sonatype, a leader in software supply chain security with a commitment to innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, parental leave, and a culture that values diversity and inclusion.
  • Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with opportunities for growth and professional development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by helping customers achieve their goals with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: Experience in customer-facing roles and strong communication skills are essential.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

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.

Customer Success at Sonatype is outcomes-driven, technically credible, and growth-oriented. As a Customer Success Manager, you will engage a portfolio of customers through a scaled engagement model, using structured lifecycle motions and data signals to prioritize the right outreach at the right time. Your goal is to accelerate time-to-value, drive adoption and measurable outcomes, increase renewal confidence, and surface growth opportunities in partnership with the broader account team. This role is not intended to be reactive “shadow support.” You will be expected to deliver proactive, outcomes-driven guidance—knowing when to pull in deeper subject-matter expertise—while maintaining disciplined execution and consistent customer leadership.

A defining expectation of this role is the use of GenAI reflexively. You are expected to use GenAI tools as a thought partner to improve the quality, clarity, and strategic rigor of your analysis, planning, and communication—while validating outputs and applying sound judgment.

Customer Outcomes and Value Realization

  • Lead structured customer motions to accelerate onboarding success, adoption, and time-to-value.
  • Help customers connect Sonatype capabilities to their desired outcomes and success criteria, translating intent into clear next steps and measurable progress.
  • Provide proactive guidance on best practices, common pitfalls, and practical steps to improve customer success with Sonatype solutions.
  • Maintain a clear view of customer health and progress, identifying risk signals early and driving mitigation actions in partnership with internal teams as needed.
  • Bring strong product and domain credibility to guide best practices and prevent pitfalls, while engaging Support and Services appropriately—staying focused on outcomes, value realization, and forward momentum rather than becoming a reactive Q&A channel.

Scaled Engagement and Signal-Driven Execution

  • Operate in a scaled engagement model, prioritizing actions based on telemetry, usage signals, customer intelligence, and lifecycle milestones.
  • Execute repeatable plays and engagement patterns that increase consistency and impact across a portfolio.
  • Document key insights, actions, and outcomes to ensure continuity, clarity, and effective internal coordination.

Retention & Growth Support

  • Increase renewal confidence by ensuring customers are realizing value, stakeholders are aligned, and risks are surfaced early with mitigation plans in motion.
  • Surface expansion signals and surface Customer Success Qualified Leads (CSQLs) in partnership with the broader account team.
  • Support opportunity progression by providing customer context, value hypotheses, and stakeholder insights that help move growth motions forward.

Cross-Function Collaboration

  • Partner effectively with Sales, Sales Engineering, Support, Product, and Services to orchestrate the right expertise at the right time—without creating unnecessary escalation churn.
  • Serve as a voice of the customer by capturing and sharing patterns, feedback, and friction points that improve product experience and customer outcomes.

This role focuses on post-sale customer experience. Commercial discussions, pricing, and contract matters are managed by the appropriate sales and contracting teams and are outside the scope of this role.

Reflexive GenAI Usage as a Standard

  • Use GenAI reflexively as a thought partner to improve the quality, clarity, and strategic rigor of analysis, planning, and communication, while validating outputs and applying sound judgment.
  • Apply GenAI to accelerate high-leverage work such as customer preparation, follow-up quality, success planning, messaging, and internal summaries—so you spend more time driving outcomes and less time on manual overhead.
  • Follow company guidance on responsible AI usage and data handling.

What Success Looks Like

  • Customers reach value faster and demonstrate measurable adoption and outcomes.
  • Engagement is proactive and structured—not dominated by reactive troubleshooting.
  • Renewal confidence increases through evidence of value, stakeholder alignment, and early risk mitigation.
  • Expansion signals and CSQLs are consistently surfaced and shared with a credible customer context.
  • Advocacy and referenceability increase through identified champions, proof points, and coordinated customer storytelling.
  • Execution is high-quality and repeatable, enabling scale across a broader portfolio.

What We are Looking For

  • Experience in Customer Success, Technical Account Management, Solutions Consulting, Support Engineering, or similar customer-facing roles in B2B SaaS.
  • Technical aptitude and credibility within modern software development lifecycles (DevOps, CI/CD, artifact management, OSS governance/security).
  • Strong customer-facing communication skills with the ability to educate, influence, and lead structured conversations.
  • Comfort operating in an environment that requires prioritization, focus, and consistent execution across a portfolio.
  • Demonstrated ownership, bias for action, and ability to manage multiple priorities with disciplined execution.
  • Strong GenAI fluency and a demonstrated habit of using AI tools to improve execution quality and speed.

Things That We Are Proud Of

  • 2025 Visionary in Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Application Security Testing!
  • 2025 AI Compliance Solution of the Year - AI Breakthrough Awards
  • 2025 DEVIES Award to our SBOM Manager for a new product for its innovation and impact in developer technology
  • 2024 Industry Leader in Forrester-Wave for Software Composition Analysis (2024 Q4 report)
  • Constellation AST Shortlist: Sonatype has been listed on the Constellation ShortList™ for Application Security Testing for 2024
  • Data Breakthrough Awards: Sonatype was announced as a 2024 winner in the "Open Source Data Solution of the Year."
  • SD Times: Best in Show Security
  • Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators 2024
  • The Herd Top 100 Private Software Companies 2024.

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. 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.

Customer Success Manager employer: Sonatype

At Sonatype, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and inclusivity. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our diverse working groups, flexible practices, and opportunities for professional development, all set against the backdrop of a dynamic tech environment in which you can make a meaningful impact. Join us to be part of a team that not only values your contributions but also empowers you to leverage cutting-edge technologies like GenAI to drive customer success and enhance your career.

Sonatype

Contact Details:

Sonatype Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Customer Success Manager

Get to Know the Company Culture

Before jumping into applications, it’s super helpful to understand the vibe at Sonatype. Check out their social media, read reviews on sites like Glassdoor, and see how they engage with customers. It'll give you clues on their values and help tailor your conversation during interviews.

Join Customer Support Communities

Dive into online communities like those on Reddit or LinkedIn where customer support pros hang out. Participating in discussions or asking questions can make you more visible to potential recruiters and help you learn about job openings at companies like Sonatype before they even post them.

Attend Job Fairs or Networking Events

Look out for local job fairs or events specifically for customer support roles. This is your chance to meet hiring managers face-to-face, and you might even get the opportunity to interview on the spot!

Show Off Your Skills with Customer Interactions

In the customer support world, showcasing your communication skills is key. Consider creating a short video introducing yourself or even doing a mock call to showcase your abilities. It's a memorable way to stand out, especially if you can share this during your interview process!

We think you need these skills to ace Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Management
Technical Account Management
Solutions Consulting
B2B SaaS Experience
Software Development Lifecycle Knowledge
DevOps
CI/CD

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Communication Skills:In customer support, clear communication is key. Make sure your CV highlights any experience you've had in customer-facing roles and your ability to resolve issues. Don't shy away from including specific examples of how you've gone above and beyond to help customers – this really shows your potential in the role.

Tailor Your Cover Letter to Sonatype:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Tell us why you want to work at Sonatype specifically. Mention any unique aspects of our company that resonate with you and how your skills can enhance our customer support. This personal touch will set your application apart from the rest!

Highlight Any Relevant Tools or Tech Skills:If you've used customer support software like Zendesk or Freshdesk or have experience with CRM systems, make sure to mention these in your application. Being familiar with industry-standard tools can be a big plus for us when we’re reviewing applications, as it shows you can hit the ground running!

Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills:Customer support roles often require a knack for problem-solving. In your application, share examples of past experiences where you've tackled tough situations or resolved conflicts effectively. This will give us a good sense of how you handle challenges—an essential skill for success at Sonatype!

How to prepare for a job interview at Sonatype

Show Off Your People Skills

In customer support, it's all about communicating effectively. Prepare to share instances from your past experiences where you handled difficult customers or resolved conflicts. We want to hear how you empathised and found the best solutions, so think of specific examples to back up your stories!

Know the Tools of the Trade

Familiarise yourself with common customer support tools like Zendesk or Freshdesk, and make sure to review how you’ve used any similar systems in the past. During the interview, being able to discuss your hands-on experience with software or ticketing systems can really set you apart from the competition, so don’t skip this prep!

Show Genuine Enthusiasm

As this is a full-time role, employers want someone who isn’t just looking for any job, but wants to grow within customer support. Make sure to express your enthusiasm for helping customers and your desire to develop your skills. Show them why you're passionate about this field!

Practice Common Scenarios

Be prepared for role-playing scenarios where you might have to reassess a solution with a frustrated customer or explain a complex process in simple terms. Practising these common scenarios can help us feel more confident and demonstrate our practical skills effectively during the interview.