Head of Sales / Founding GTM

>83% of experimental data is discarded, losing over $100B in R&D value every year. 83 Sciences turns unused experimental data into the materials and manufacturing processes powering the next industrial revolution. Our platform structures every experiment into a queryable scientific record that understands failures, proposes optimized process conditions, and converts unpublished data into papers, patents, and commercial discovery.

Built by researchers from Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and MIT. Backed by Y Combinator.

The Role

You are our first sales hire, owning revenue from zero. You will sell materials discovery programs and scientific exploration contracts that convert into large, long-term deals with major manufacturers in batteries, catalysts, membranes, pharma, and semiconductors. This means navigating R&D organizations, translating between scientists and business stakeholders, and structuring multi-stage deals.

What You'll Do

• Own the full sales cycle: prospecting, scoping, technical qualification, negotiation, close
• Build a pipeline of enterprise R&D buyers across our verticals
• Structure land-and-expand deals where exploration contracts convert into manufacturing partnerships
• Work with our scientific team to scope programs, define deliverables, and price engagements
• Execute the GTM motion alongside the founders and codify what works into a repeatable playbook
• Recruit and lead the sales team as we scale

What You Bring

• 5+ years of enterprise or technical sales, including 3+ years selling materials discovery, contract research, or scientific exploration engagements to enterprise R&D organizations
• Track record converting early research contracts into large downstream deals with major manufacturers
• Deep familiarity with buyers in at least one vertical: batteries, catalysis, membranes, pharma, or semiconductors
• Fluency with technical stakeholders, from materials scientists to CTOs
• Comfort with long multi-stakeholder cycles and creative deal structures (milestones, royalties, licensing)
• Founder mentality: you build pipeline, process, and collateral yourself

Nice to Have

• Degree in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or related field
• Experience at a CRO, materials informatics company, or deep-tech startup
• Existing relationships with R&D leadership at major manufacturers

Why This Role

• Founding seat: own revenue end to end with meaningful equity
• Uncapped commission paid on signed exploration contracts, not just downstream conversions

Massive market: every manufacturer needs faster, cheaper materials discovery

$110K-$140K base, $170K-$220K OTE (uncapped)