Principal Sales Engineer

About R-Zero

R-Zero offers smart building technology that delivers real-time insights on optimizing indoor spaces to improve workforce productivity, predict real estate needs, and create operational efficiencies, including reducing energy costs. R-Zero’s smart building solutions include IAQ and comfort monitoring, high-efficiency HVAC filtration, space utilization sensors, occupancy-based building controls, and real estate performance analytics. R-Zero’s connected platform is easy-to-use, secure, and scalable, enabling owners, operators, and their tenants, to prepare their buildings for tomorrow's challenges. Learn more at www.rzero.com.

About the Role

R-Zero is seeking an experienced Principal Sales Engineer to lead and scale our pre-sales engineering efforts. This leader will play a critical role in enabling our sales team to win by delivering expert technical scoping and project management support throughout the pre-sales process. The ideal candidate has 10+ years of expertise in HVAC systems, building controls, and BMS, and excels at translating complex engineering concepts into compelling, customer-facing solutions.

This individual will be directly responsible for scoping identified buildings for occupancy-based DCV, working closely with Sales, Solutions, Product, and Engineering to ensure our solutions are technically sound, scalable, and tailored to customer needs. The scoping that you will put together in this role, will be handed off directly to our Solutions team for implementation.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the Pre-Sales Engineering priorities, developing scalable processes and technical resources that accelerate the sales cycles.
• Partner with Sales Directors during pre-sales to assess customer buildings, analyze existing HVAC systems, and identify opportunities for occupancy-based DCV retrofits.
• Develop detailed technical scopes of work, solution designs, and ROI analyses that demonstrate the value of R-Zero’s platform.
• Develop, customize and deliver demos of company software, ROI models and M&V models.
• Become fluent in competitive positioning so R-Zero always wins.
• Travel to customer locations to conduct site surveys (remote and in-person) and gather key building data (e.g., air handling unit specifications, BAS configuration, occupancy profiles, BMS points, trended data).
• Serve as the subject matter expert on HVAC controls, ventilation strategies, and indoor air quality standards.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Solutions to inform future solution development based on field learnings and customer feedback.
• Create and maintain sales tools, technical collateral, and training resources to enhance team capability and efficiency.
• Build and manage a high-performing team of sales engineers as the business scales.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Sales Engineering, HVAC systems design, building automation, or a related field.
• Proven experience leading technical pre-sales or solutions engineering in a high-growth environment.
• Strong knowledge in the state of the art HVAC systems, complex buildings, building management systems, building automation, smart buildings, controls integration, and energy modeling.
• Familiarity with indoor air quality standards (ASHRAE, WELL, LEED) and demand-controlled ventilation strategies.
• Exceptional customer-facing communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical detail into business value.
• Experience working with enterprise sales teams and supporting complex, multi-stakeholder deals.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Science, or related field (Master’s or PE license a plus).
• Nice to have: industry certifications such as LEED AP, WELL AP, CEM or equivalent

Travel Requirements

• Up to 20% travel may be expected as the businesses solutions scale and on-prem data capture requirements increase.

Why R-Zero

• Join a purpose-driven team tackling one of the biggest challenges facing the built environment- energy and carbon reduction.
• Work with innovative technologies at the intersection of health, energy, and smart building automation.
• Competitive compensation, equity, and benefits.
• A culture of collaboration, taking ownership, and innovation.

R-Zero’s benefits program includes:

• Generous time-off policies and paid holidays
• Competitive total compensation with equity
• Health benefits (medical, dental, vision) and 401(k) program starting on day one
• Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Monthly stipend to support home internet and cell phone for work purposes
• Budget for WFH equipment
• Monthly in-office lunches and happy hours
• Learning and development support
• Hybrid work environment with only one mandatory day per week in office

Working Environment For employees in the San Francisco Bay Area: Work is at the Company’s work location in San Francisco, in an office setting and is performed during the Company’s core business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The noise level in the office is usually moderate. You will be required to bring your R-Zero provided lap top and sit at the provided office workstations. Sitting for prolonged periods of time is required as are the additional physical requirements listed below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this classification. The Company reserves the right to add or make changes at any time. This is not intended to change the at will relationship.

EEO STATEMENT

R-Zero is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. We welcome all qualified applicants to apply at R-Zero and we strive to select the best qualified applicant for each position in our organization. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or other legally protected status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. R-Zero complies with all laws and regulations relating to employment discrimination and is always committed to doing what's right.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you freely give informed consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of your personal information as described therein.