Tech Sales Executive Search in the San Francisco Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to more software and AI companies than anywhere else, and the competition for proven revenue talent is intense. Howard Lee & Associates helps Bay Area startups and growth stage companies hire the sales and customer leaders they need to turn product momentum into revenue.

Roles We Fill for Bay Area Companies

• —VP of Sales, CRO and sales directors who can build and scale a team
• —Account executives for mid market, enterprise and strategic deals
• —Sales engineers and solutions architects for technical and AI products
• —Customer success leaders focused on retention and expansion

Built for Startup and Growth Stage Hiring

Bay Area companies often hire their first sales leader right after a funding round, or need to add sellers quickly once a repeatable motion takes shape. Hiring the wrong profile at that point is costly. We help you define what the role really needs at your stage: a builder who can sell personally, or a scaler who can run a larger organization.

Selling AI and Technical Products

AI and developer focused products ask more of a sales team. Buyers expect technical depth, and deals often involve security, data and procurement reviews. We look for sellers and sales engineers who have handled that kind of complexity, not just strong quota numbers in an unrelated market.

Experience and Network

Steve Lee has recruited sales talent for technology companies since 1997 and founded Howard Lee & Associates in 2002. Our network includes many passive candidates who are performing well and not looking, which is often where the best hires come from.

Remote and Hybrid Searches

Many Bay Area teams now hire across time zones. We search in the Bay Area and nationally, so your shortlist reflects the best candidates for the role, whether it is in office in San Francisco or fully remote.

Our Process

Frequently Asked Questions