Senior Business Development – Freelancer in France (climate-tech start-up)

exnaton is a startup, spun out of ETH Zurich, which offers AI software for renewable energy to utility companies. Our software enables energy providers to set up energy communities and smart energy tariffs in their distribution areas. Users of our product can track their energy consumption and buy renewable energy from their neighbors, which makes investing in the energy transition simple and fun!

Prosumers, dynamic electricity tariffs, and energy sharing are driving the energy transition and becoming integral components of the decentralized energy world. Our software is a cloud application that processes smart meter data and computes smart real-time prices for locally produced energy which makes renewable energy financially more attractive. End-users receive an app that maps the sources of their energy, making their electricity consumption more understandable.

Our team is growing and we are looking for passionate and talented people to complement our team on a freelance basis. We are a diverse team, all driven by the shared goal of using technology to create a sustainable impact in our society.

For this specific role, fluency in French is required.

As a freelance Sales Manager, you will help exnaton open and grow the French market on a flexible, independent basis. Drawing on your existing network and experience in the energy sector, you will support us in the following areas:

• Identifying and reaching out to potential customers in your target market, introducing them to exnaton's product,

• Owning key parts of the sales cycle, from initial outreach through to deal closure, depending on the scope agreed together,

• Leveraging your existing relationships and market knowledge to open doors and accelerate conversations;,

• Representing exnaton in an authentic, credible way to prospective customers and partners in your market,

• Sharing market insights and feedback with our core Sales and Product teams,

• Collaborating remotely with our Sales, Product, and Marketing teams to align on messaging, pricing, and proposals.

This is an independent contractor / freelance engagement, not a permanent employee position. This role is a good fit for an experienced energy-sales professional who wants to represent exnaton in France on a flexible basis.

We are looking for someone who could support us one day per week.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has proven experience of 5+ years in B2B sales or business development within the energy industry — this is a hard requirement,

• Is open to a base salary in combination with variable compensation,

• Has an established network and credibility in France,

• Is comfortable working independently and managing their own time and priorities,

• Has strong communication and relationship-building skills,

• Is fluent in French and English,

• Has an entrepreneurial mindset and is comfortable representing a company in its growth trajectory.

At exnaton, you'll be part of a small and driven team doing genuinely important work - building the technology that's helping reshape how energy is produced and consumed. Here's what comes with the role:

• A competitive salary,

• Flexible working hours and a remote-first way of working, as we support those being based in different locations,

• A virtual office that actually works - tools and rituals designed for meaningful collaboration across different locations,

• Work that matters - exciting technology, a mission you can get behind, and teammates who genuinely care about both.

exnaton is the intelligence platform for new energy – software purpose-built for utilities and energy providers navigating the energy transition. Founded in 2020 as an ETH Zürich spin-off, we enable utilities and energy suppliers to launch and scale next-generation energy products – from dynamic tariffs and energy communities to smart EV charging, prosumer offerings, and local flexibility services – without replacing their existing ERP or billing systems.

Our platform gives utilities the tools to let their customers track energy consumption, share locally generated renewable energy, and participate in the energy transition in a meaningful way, turning individual climate action from an aspiration into an everyday reality. Today, more than 50 utilities and energy companies use exnaton to bring innovative energy products to market faster.

Our fast-growing team combines expertise in energy, software engineering, product development, and business innovation. We work remotely across multiple countries, with hubs in Zurich, Barcelona, Berlin, Vienna, and beyond.

We believe the energy transition requires entirely new digital infrastructure and customer experiences. As energy systems become increasingly decentralized, dynamic, and flexible, utilities need intelligent software to manage complexity and unlock new business models. Our mission is to make the energy transition executable – and to become Europe’s leading software platform for the new energy world.

If you want to help shape the future of energy together with us, we’d love to hear from you.

How we use AI in hiring

Hiring at exnaton stays personal - a real person on our team reviews every application. We do use AI to help us assess and summarize interview feedback, so our team can work more efficiently and stay focused on giving everyone a fair look. All final hiring decisions are made by people, using their judgment and experience to decide who joins the team.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
At exnaton, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. We strongly encourage applications from people traditionally underrepresented in tech and consider all candidates equally — regardless of gender identity, age, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, citizenship, or marital status. We believe diverse perspectives make us better — and we'd love for yours to be part of the team.