Guide To Choosing A Career In SaaS

SaaS is becoming an increasingly popular field to work in, sparking many people to make a career switch to the sector. The good news is that research from StartUs Insights shows that SaaS employs 2.2 million people globally, and that number is projected to grow by 5% by 2029. With this in mind, should you make the transition into SaaS, too, and how?

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What Is It Like Working in the SaaS Industry?

The SaaS industry is a reflection of the current technological outlook, moving at a quick pace and changing constantly. As a result, day-to-day operations working in this industry are a fast-moving flurry of hard work and innovation. 

Updates are released regularly, competitors are worldwide and never seem to sleep, and the goal post is never static. Whether you’re in the business of SaaS sales, software engineering, or product management, you’ll find that the work tends to pile up very quickly.

At the same time, the nature of the SaaS market allows working to be an overall more laid-back experience than traditional corporate requires. 

In SaaS, you’ll be working with cutting-edge tech. And with the most modern technology comes the newest generations and emerging ideologies in the professional world - which can make it a highly exciting industry to work in.

Here we look at some of the possible pros and cons of working in SaaS:

Advantages of a Career in SaaS

• High earning potential

• High potential for career growth

• Some companies make a point of prioritizing work-life balance

• Remote or hybrid work is common

• Creativity and innovation are encouraged

• A strong focus on employee growth and skill development

 

Disadvantages of a Career in SaaS

• High-pressure quotas (Sales roles)

• Start-up jobs can be unstable

• Competitive landscape

How to Thrive in a SaaS Career

The skills you need to have for this industry will depend on your chosen career path. That said, there are some skills that are generally looked upon positively by recruiters in the SaaS industry, including:

• Adaptability

• Problem-solving

• Team collaboration

• Communication

• Continuous learning

• Technical expertise

• Industry knowledge

 

Being able to demonstrate a commitment to improving this skill set will stand you in good stead when applying to work at a SaaS company. Many professionals transition into SaaS from other industries and showcase transferable skills.

 

Common Career Paths in SaaS

Getting into the SaaS industry can be achieved through any career path as long as you possess the right set of skills, traits, and experience.

Let’s browse some of the career paths you might consider in SaaS and what skills you need to develop to thrive in this career:

SaaS Sales

In SaaS sales, the typical career trajectory follows a structured path from entry-level to senior leadership roles. Here’s a common career path:

1. Sales Development Representative (SDR) / Business Development Representative (BDR) – The starting point in SaaS sales, focusing on prospecting, cold outreach, and lead qualification.
   
   
2. Account Executive (AE) – Responsible for managing the full sales cycle, from initial contact to closing deals, often handling demos and negotiations.
   
   
3. Senior Account Executive / Enterprise Account Executive – Works on larger, more complex deals with bigger clients, often in the mid-market or enterprise segment.
   
   
4. Sales Manager / Team Lead – Leads a team of SDRs or AEs, providing coaching, setting targets, and optimizing sales processes.
   
   
5. VP of Sales / Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) – Oversees the entire sales function, setting strategy, managing high-level partnerships, and driving revenue growth across the company.

 

In SaaS sales, sales reps are not the only ones who should be able to sell SaaS solutions. Closing deals is a common requirement in any sales team, regardless of the industry. A candidate looking to work in SaaS sales should look to hone these skills:

• Understanding of SaaS sales cycles and marketing strategies 

• Effective communication and negotiation skills 

• CRM proficiency (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) 

• Prospecting and identifying qualified leads 

• Objection handling and closing techniques 

 

Some personality traits are better suited for a role in SaaS sales. Such as:  

• Resilience and adaptability 

• Goal-oriented mindset 

• Strong problem-solving skills 

• Ability to build and maintain relationships 

• High emotional intelligence 

• Excellent communication skills 

 

Below are the types of responsibilities that are expected of people working in SaaS sales. Obviously, more junior roles will carry less responsibility than senior roles, which will be more focused on leadership. 

• Identifying and qualifying leads generated 

• Managing the sales pipeline and forecasting revenue 

• Conducting product demos and presentations 

• Negotiating contracts and closing deals 

• Collaborating with customer success and marketing teams 

 

Countless opportunities are available for sales professionals if they’re willing to work on improving their skill sets. Being on this career path opens you up to career development opportunities, from sales rep to account executive or even director of sales - Anything is possible. 

 

Software Engineering 

Software engineering is the lifeblood of SaaS. This is the function that the company could not run without. The typical career progression moves from entry-level coding roles to strategic leadership positions.

Here’s a common career path for SaaS software engineering:

1. Junior Software Engineer / Software Engineer I – The entry-level role focused on writing code, fixing bugs, and learning best practices under senior engineers’ guidance. 
2. Software Engineer / Software Engineer II – Works on more complex coding tasks, contributes to system design, and may start mentoring junior developers. 
3. Senior Software Engineer – Takes ownership of projects, leads technical decision-making, and mentors junior engineers while working on high-impact features. 
4. Engineering Manager / Lead Software Engineer – Moves into leadership, managing teams, setting development priorities, and ensuring project delivery while still contributing technically. 
5. VP of Engineering / Chief Technology Officer (CTO) – Focuses on company-wide technical strategy, oversees engineering teams, and aligns technology with business goals.

 

This progression balances technical expertise, leadership skills, and strategic decision-making as engineers advance in their careers.

There are various skills you need to hone to keep up with the demands of maintaining a smooth running, stable software:

• Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++, JavaScript)

• Software development lifecycle and Agile methodologies

• Version control systems (e.g., Git, GitHub, GitLab)

• Database management (SQL & NoSQL)

• Cloud-based computing and DevOps practices

• Cybersecurity awareness and secure coding principles

• Testing and debugging skills

 

Learn more about the career paths open to you after learning Python.

And certain personality traits that are better suited to SaaS software development roles, such as:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Attention to detail and code quality

• Collaboration and teamwork in cross-functional environments

• Adaptability to new technologies and industry trends

• Strong communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences

 

These are the responsibilities that the software engineering team is responsible for:

• Designing, developing, and deploying new features and improvements

• Building and optimizing the SaaS platform for scalability as the user base grows

• Writing clean, maintainable code, implementing automated testing, and managing CI/CD pipelines

• Implementing security protocols, monitoring security risks, and ensuring user data is secure

• Maintaining long-term system health and performance

• Working with product management, designers, and customer success to improve UX

 

Whether it's leadership roles you aspire to (Senior Software Engineer, Technical Lead, Director of Engineering, or CTO) or technical specialization roles (Full-Stack Developer, DevOps Engineer, Cybersecurity Engineer, etc.), opportunities in this field are abundant.

 

SaaS Product Management

Product managers in the software as a service industry are in charge of strategy. They look to the bigger picture and determine the best path for the business in the long term.

The career path typically evolves from hands-on execution roles to strategic leadership.

Here’s what classic career progression in project management could look like:

1. Associate Product Manager (APM) / Junior Product Manager – Entry-level role focused on assisting with product research, writing requirements, and supporting senior PMs in product development. 
2. Product Manager (PM) – Owns specific features or products, collaborates with engineering and design teams, gathers user feedback, and drives product roadmaps. 
3. Senior Product Manager – Takes ownership of major product areas, leads cross-functional teams, and makes strategic decisions about product direction. 
4. Product Lead / Group Product Manager (GPM) – Manages multiple product managers, aligns roadmaps with company goals, and ensures strategic execution across multiple teams. 
5. VP of Product / Chief Product Officer (CPO) – Leads the entire product function, sets the vision and strategy for the product portfolio, and aligns product development with business growth.

 

Each step requires increasing levels of ownership, strategic thinking, and leadership, with a focus on balancing user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.

Here are the skills needed to thrive in a product management team:

• Product strategy and roadmap development 

• Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) 

• Market research and competitive analysis 

• User experience (UX) and customer journey mapping 

• Data analytics and metrics-driven decision-making (KPIs, retention, etc.) 

• Pricing strategies and monetization models for SaaS product 

• Collaboration with engineering, sales, and marketing teams 

• Knowledge of cloud technologies, APIs, and integrations 

 

There are certain personality traits that recruiters look for when hiring for product management teams, including:

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills

• Customer-centric mindset

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management

• Adaptability to rapidly changing market conditions

• Problem-solving and decision-making under uncertainty

• Entrepreneurial mindset and ownership mentality

 

These are the responsibilities that the product management team has:

• Defining product vision, strategy, and roadmap based on business goals and user needs

• Conducting market research, competitor analysis, and customer interviews

• Collaborating with engineers, designers, and sales teams to develop and launch new features

• Analyzing product performance and iterating based on user feedback and data

• Prioritizing features and improvements using frameworks like MoSCoW or RICE

• Aligning cross-functional teams around product goals and strategy

 

Specialized roles in project management include data project manager, AI/ML project manager, or growth project manager.

 

SaaS Marketing

Marketing teams often work tirelessly to increase awareness and conversions and provide an avenue for long-term customer retention, continued growth, and branding. They are in charge of social media, the website, and most of the promotional information about the software.

A typical SaaS marketing career path might look like this:

1. Marketing Coordinator / Marketing Associate – Entry-level role assisting with content creation, campaign execution, and analytics, supporting senior marketers.
   
   
2. Marketing Manager / Growth Marketer – Owns specific marketing channels (e.g., content, SEO, paid ads), develops campaigns, and optimizes acquisition strategies.
   
   
3. Senior Marketing Manager / Demand Generation Manager – Leads major marketing initiatives, drives revenue growth, and manages cross-functional campaigns.
   
   
4. Head of Marketing / Director of Marketing – Manages a team of marketers, sets overall marketing strategy, and aligns initiatives with business goals.
   
   
5. VP of Marketing / Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) – Oversees the entire marketing function, defines brand positioning, drives company-wide growth strategies, and manages large teams and budgets.

 

As professionals progress, they shift from tactical execution to high-level strategy, performance optimization, and leadership in driving business success.

The skills ideal for developing a career in SaaS marketing are:

• Demand generation and lead nurturing 

• Growth marketing and performance-based advertising 

• Search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing 

• Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising (Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads)

• Email marketing and automation (HubSpot, Marketo, Mailchimp)

• Product positioning and messaging 

• Social media marketing and community engagement 

 

These are the personality traits recruiters are looking for when hiring a SaaS marketer:

• Analytical and data-driven mindset 

• Creativity in crafting compelling campaigns 

• Adaptability to fast-changing market trends 

• Strong communication and storytelling skills 

• Customer-centric approach with empathy for user needs 

• Ability to work cross-functionally with sales, product, and customer success teams 

 

The following list details the responsibilities a SaaS marketing team is responsible for: 

• Creating and executing campaigns to attract and convert potential customers 

• Developing product messaging and positioning 

• Building a strong brand presence through PR, social media, content marketing, and partnerships 

• Optimising the website and lead nurture flows to improve conversion rates 

• Working closely with customer success to drive user engagement and retention  

• Reporting on campaign performance and adjusting based on insights 

 

While it’s possible to enter SaaS marketing as a generalist marketer, some choose to niche down into more specialist roles such as content marketing management, growth marketing, SEO, or social media. It’s also possible to enter a SaaS marketing team as a design expert or data analyst.

 

SaaS Customer Success Management

Customer Success Managers are responsible for handling existing customer needs and keeping them happy. Keeping existing customers happy improves customer retention, reduces customer acquisition costs, and improves long-term profit stability.

A typical career progression in customer success might look like this:

1. Customer Success Associate / Customer Support Specialist – Entry-level role focused on onboarding users, answering queries, and providing product guidance.
   
   
2. Customer Success Manager (CSM) – Owns customer relationships, drives product adoption, handles renewals, and works proactively to reduce churn.
   
   
3. Senior Customer Success Manager / Enterprise CSM – Manages high-value accounts, develops long-term customer strategies, and collaborates closely with sales and product teams.
   
   
4. Customer Success Lead / Director of Customer Success – Oversees a team of CSMs, sets success strategies, and optimizes customer engagement processes.
   
   
5. VP of Customer Success / Chief Customer Officer (CCO) – Leads the entire customer success function, aligns retention strategies with business goals, and ensures a seamless customer experience.

 

As professionals advance, they shift from day-to-day customer interactions to shaping high-level retention, expansion, and advocacy strategies.

These are the skills that make up a customer success team:

• Deep understanding of SaaS business models and customer lifecycles

• Onboarding, training, and user adoption techniques

• Upselling and cross-selling strategies

• Conflict resolution and handling customer objections

• CRM and customer success platforms (e.g., Gainsight, HubSpot)

• Strong communication and presentation skills

 

Certain personality traits are sought after by recruiters hiring for customer success teams:

• Empathy and active listening skills

• Problem-solving and adaptability in fast-paced environments

• Resilience and ability to handle difficult customer situations

• Collaboration and teamwork across sales, product, and marketing teams

• High emotional intelligence (EQ) for managing customer relationships

 

These are the responsibilities that a customer success team owns:

• Guiding new customers through setup and training

• Managing customer relationships and resolving issues to reduce churn

• Identifying opportunities for upselling, cross-selling, and account expansion

• Anticipating customer challenges and working with other teams to resolve issues quicklyF

• ostering relationships with loyal customers to generate case studies, testimonials, and referrals

• Collecting and analyzing customer feedback to inform product development

 

Specialized customer success roles include titles like Enterprise Customer Success Manager, Renewals Manager, Onboarding Specialist, and Customer Experience (CX) Manager.

 

SaaS Operations

Operations managers in SaaS are in charge of just that - operations. Whether that be compliance, scalability, efficiency, security, or support, the operations department handles everything from technical support and solution architecture to DevOps and infrastructure growth.

Here is what a typical career path could look like in SaaS Operations:

Career progression typically moves from execution-focused roles (handling day-to-day processes and systems) to strategic leadership (optimizing efficiency, scaling operations, and driving business impact).

1. Operations Analyst / Business Operations Associate – Entry-level role focused on data analysis, reporting, and supporting operational processes like sales, finance, and customer success.
   
   
2. Revenue Operations (RevOps) Specialist / SaaS Operations Manager – Manages and optimizes operational processes across sales, marketing, customer success, and finance, ensuring efficiency and alignment.
   
   
3. Senior Operations Manager / Director of RevOps – Leads a team responsible for scaling processes, selecting tools and systems, and driving data-driven decision-making.
   
   
4. VP of Operations / VP of Revenue Operations – Oversees all operational functions, from sales and customer success operations to internal process automation and efficiency.
   
   
5. Chief Operating Officer (COO) / Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) – Aligns operations with overall business strategy, driving growth, revenue efficiency, and cross-functional collaboration at the highest level.

 

Career progression typically moves from execution-focused roles (handling day-to-day processes and systems) to strategic leadership (optimizing efficiency, scaling operations, and driving business impact).

The skills required in a SaaS Operations team include:

• Strong understanding of SaaS infrastructure (cloud computing, networking, databases)

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)

• API integrations and software deployment strategies

• Troubleshooting and debugging technical issues

• Knowledge of DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and automation tools

• Familiarity with programming and scripting languages (Python, Bash, SQL)

• Customer communication and problem-solving techniques

• IT security best practices and compliance standards

 

Here are the personality traits recruiters typically look for during the hiring process:

• Analytical and data-driven mindset

• Strong problem-solving abilities with a proactive approach

• Process-oriented with a strong attention to detail

• Tech-savvy with the ability to pick up new tools quickly

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills

 

Here are some of the areas the Operations team would be responsible for:

• Aligning sales, marketing, and customer success operations 

• Identifying inefficiencies in workflows and implementing automation tools  

• Ensuring accurate data collection, reporting, and analysis to drive informed decision-making. 

• Managing and optimizing the company’s tech stack and integrations  

• Improving workflows, reporting structures, and operational strategies across teams 

• Ensuring internal processes comply with industry regulations and security protocols

 

Specialized roles in SaaS operations include Ops Engineers, Security and Compliance Engineers, and Cloud-based Solution Architects.

You could also continue down the traditional career path from operations analyst or support engineer to VP of operations or even CTO. Cloud-based consultancy and technical product management are also alternate paths to success.

 

Is a Career in SaaS Right for You?

If you’re not sure if a career in SaaS would be the right fit for you, try asking yourself these questions:

• Do you enjoy technology?

• Do you enjoy fast-paced working environments?

• Do you prefer collaborating in teams over working alone?

• Do you like problem-solving?

• Do you see your career evolving over time?

 

Here are some frequently asked questions about SaaS that might help you assess if this is the career for you:

Q: Does SaaS pay well?

A: According to published data, the average SaaS start-up salary is 3.7% higher than the regular average start-up salary. Considering that start-ups pay less than fully established companies, SaaS is well-positioned to pay higher than average for most jobs.

Q: Is SaaS worth getting into?

A: The short answer to this is - Financially, Yes!

The long answer depends on your current earnings as well as what you hope to achieve with the role. If this sector aligns with your goals and your personality traits and will put you in a better financial position, then yes.

Q: Can you get into SaaS sales with no experience?

A: Essentially, yes, though sales experience is always preferred. That said, certifications and online training courses are available in abundance and will boost your likelihood of getting your foot in the door. If you’re brand new to the working world, you may want to read this guide on how to land your first corporate job.

 

If SaaS is just one of the careers you’re considering, you may want to look into career assessment tools to help you explore what is the right path for you.

 

How to Get Started in SaaS

Once you’ve decided the SaaS industry is right for you, follow these steps to help you walk right into your dream SaaS role.

• Build a network by attending SaaS conferences and events

• Join online forums and communities

• Gain relevant skills and certifications from trusted organizations

• Apply to SaaS jobs and internships

• Contact recruiters specialized in SaaS and express your interest.

• Contact HR managers in companies you’re interested in – don’t shy away from contacting team leaders, too. It can showcase your interest and give you a leg up on the competition!

 

Learn more about how to network in a way that could lead to job offers here!

 

A Career in SaaS May Be Your Next Big Move

Getting into SaaS can be a lucrative move. With the extra knowledge that you’ve gained from this article, there’s no reason you can’t break into the SaaS industry in the career path of your choice.