How Betts Helped OneSchema Hire a Founding Sales Engineer

OneSchema, an AI agent for autonomous data operations, had already built out their SDR and AE teams through Betts’ RaaS subscription when they came back to tackle a more complex hire: a founding Sales Engineer. As an early-stage company without an internal talent acquisition team, OneSchema needed a partner who understood the nuances of the role and could help them identify a profile that combined technical depth with the customer-facing skills required to move deals forward.

The person had to be technically fluent across API integrations, JavaScript, and REST APIs while also being comfortable leading demos, proof-of-concepts, and technical conversations with mid-market and enterprise buyers across roughly $50K deal sizes and shorter sales cycles. That experience had to come from a high-growth company under 1,000 employees, and with OneSchema looking for someone willing to come into the Bay Area office five days a week, the search required both precision and the right network to make it a success.

Since Betts had already worked closely with OneSchema, the team had a clear understanding of the company’s culture, hiring expectations, and the types of candidates who would thrive there. That existing partnership allowed Betts to move quickly and act as a strategic advisor and recruiting partner. Drawing on experience placing Sales Engineers at similar early-stage companies, Betts helped OneSchema refine the profile around what would actually drive success in the role. Rather than targeting post-sales talent built for implementation and retention, Betts recommended focusing on a pre-sales profile with the technical credibility and customer-facing ability to support new revenue generation.

Betts also helped the team separate true must-haves from nice-to-haves and calibrated elements like in-office expectations and compensation based on what the market would support for top Sales Engineer talent. With a clear profile in place, Betts leveraged its Bay Area network and understanding of candidate motivations, including product story, equity upside, and growth potential, to engage candidates who matched the technical bar and were excited by the opportunity.

Within two months, Betts helped OneSchema hire its founding Sales Engineer, delivering one successful hire from just nine interviews. By sharpening the profile, advising on the role requirements, and leveraging its Bay Area network, Betts identified a candidate who aligned with the technical demands of the role, understood the sales motion, and matched the company’s culture from day one.