Customer Success Manager - Cloud Security Career Growth in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
This CSM role at Upwind sits at a compelling intersection of cloud security and enterprise customer success — two of the fastest-growing domains in enterprise software. For career-minded professionals, this represents a high-visibility opportunity with direct impact on revenue retention and expansion.
Compensation context: No salary is listed, but US-based CSMs in cybersecurity SaaS with 3–5+ years of experience typically earn $110,000–$150,000 base, often with variable/bonus tied to renewals and NRR (Net Revenue Retention). Upwind's positioning as a VC-backed, next-gen security platform suggests competitive comp with potential equity upside.
Skills you'll develop:
- Executive stakeholder management in security-conscious enterprises
- Cloud security domain expertise (eBPF, CSPM, runtime protection) — highly marketable
- Revenue ownership: renewals, churn forecasting, expansion pipeline
- Cross-functional leadership across Sales, TAMs, and Product
Culture signals: The language — "fast-paced," "think creatively," "make a meaningful impact" — is typical of an early-to-mid-stage startup. The TAM/CSM split structure suggests a maturing CS org, which is a green flag for role clarity and internal collaboration.
Green flags: Clear ownership model, growth-stage company with room to shape the function, and cybersecurity is a recession-resistant sector. Watch for: No benefits or salary transparency listed, which can signal early-stage ambiguity around total compensation.
About The Position
Upwind is a next-generation Cloud Security Platform that leverages runtime context to identify and prioritize critical risks, providing precise insights and efficient cloud security management. Unlike traditional tools, Upwind uses runtime data proactively for risk prioritization and posture insights, ensuring teams focus on what truly matters. With industry-leading efficiency and eBPF-powered sensors, Upwind delivers comprehensive capabilities, including agentless cloud posture discovery, real-time threat protection, and integrated API security. From misconfigurations to malware defense, Upwind ensures end-to-end, cost-effective cloud infrastructure protection. At Upwind, you'll have the opportunity to think creatively, explore new ideas, and use your skills to make a meaningful impact on our growth.
We're looking for a Customer Success Manager (CSM) to own the strategic relationship with our customers, drive business value, and ensure long-term retention and growth. As the counterpart to our Technical Account Managers, you'll focus on the customer's outcomes, executive alignment, program management, renewal/expansion, and value realization across the Upwind platform.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary business-facing contact and trusted advisor for assigned strategic customers.
- Own the post-sale customer journey from onboarding through renewal, ensuring clear ownership and smooth handoffs across teams.
- Own customer renewals and hygiene by tracking timelines, forecasting risk, and ensuring early alignment with Sales.
- Identify and surface expansion opportunities in partnership with Sales by understanding customer initiatives, cloud footprint, and security roadmap.
- Collaborate with Sales on long-term account strategy and positioning of relevant Upwind capabilities.
- Partner closely with TAMs to drive adoption of new capabilities, communicate value, and track progress against success criteria.
- Develop and manage joint success plans aligned to customer objectives, KPIs, and success criteria.
- Build strong relationships across executive, security, DevOps, and cloud leadership.
- Ensure customers achieve measurable outcomes by operationalizing Upwind within their workflows and expanding usage over time.
- Lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), program reviews, and executive readouts.
Requirements
- 3–5+ years in Customer Success, Account Management, or similar client-facing roles in SaaS or cybersecurity.
- Strong understanding of cloud security programs, modern security org structures, and value-driven success methodologies.
- Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills.
- Proven track record of driving adoption, managing complex accounts, and leading cross-functional programs.
- Comfortable working in fast-paced environments and influencing both customer and internal priorities.
- Experience partnering with technical teams (TAMs, SAs, Product) and Sales to support customer outcomes and retention.
- Ability to connect technical capabilities to business impact, security outcomes, and ROI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Customer Success Manager role at Upwind remote?
What experience level is required for this CSM position?
What does the Customer Success Manager own at Upwind?
Is cloud security expertise required for this role?
Does this role involve managing revenue targets like renewals?
