Founding GTM Lead - UAE

UniversalAGI is building foundation models that learn physics directly from data, already running in early deployments on computational fluid dynamics and reservoir engineering problems for large industrial and defense organizations. The Founding GTM Territory Lead for UAE will build the company's commercial presence across the UAE in Oil & Gas and Aerospace & Defense, working directly with the CEO and founding GTM team to map the market, build the playbook, and close deals personally.

Responsibilities

Own and build UniversalAGI's go-to-market motion across the UAE spanning both Oil & Gas and Aerospace & Defense; Run the full sales lifecycle for major accounts in the region: prospecting, technical proof points, commercial negotiation, close, and account expansion; Defend and expand position with anchor accounts in the region, and identify and close new-logo opportunities across both verticals; Map the region's buying landscape, including government-influenced procurement, national-champion mandates, and localization and offset requirements; Translate the physics AI value proposition into a quantified business case for technical and economic buyers; Partner with the CEO, other founding GTM leads, and the engineering team to shape product and GTM strategy; Build the region's sales playbook from scratch, including qualification criteria, deal stages, messaging, and repeatable processes; Represent UniversalAGI at industry events, conferences, and customer sites across the region

Requirements

10+ years of enterprise sales experience selling into Oil & Gas and/or Aerospace & Defense organizations; Existing relationships with territory oil companies and defense primes, with ability to navigate government-influenced procurement, security and localization requirements, and multi-stakeholder buying committees; Proven experience selling into customers in the UAE; Engineering background or hands-on technical experience (CFD, mechanical/aerospace engineering, or reservoir/production engineering) sufficient to go deep on the technical value proposition with engineering buyers; Active, callable relationships with VP-level and above contacts at national oil companies, operators, defense primes, or state-linked defense entities in the region; History of personally sourcing and closing large, net-new deals, not inherited pipeline; Comfortable operating as a founding, largely solo function under real ambiguity; Based in the UAE (or willing to relocate) with frequent travel across the region

Nice to have

Arabic language fluency; Existing relationships with territory oil companies and defense primes; Experience selling simulation, CFD, or other applied engineering software specifically; Prior experience at an early-stage startup building a GTM function from scratch; Experience navigating both Oil & Gas and Aerospace & Defense buying processes; Advanced technical degree (MS or PhD in a related engineering or science field)

Benefits

Competitive compensation with significant equity upside; Opportunity to shape the technical foundation of a rapidly growing foundational AI company; Work on cutting-edge industrial AI problems with immediate real-world impact; Direct collaboration with the founder & CEO and ability to influence company strategy; In-person culture with the founding team and autonomy to run your own territory from the field; Extensive travel across the regions and some in-person collaboration with the San Francisco team; Access to world-class investors and advisors in the AI space