Gunnar Lykins

About Gunnar Lykins

Sales Engineering leader with a track record of bridging complex technology and business outcomes across enterprise and high-growth environments.Currently a Sales Engineering Manager at Astronomer, leading technical sales efforts across the US West and ANZ regions. I partner closely with Sales, Product, and Customer Success to support complex enterprise deal cycles, scale go-to-market strategy, and deliver measurable customer value across strategic accounts.My background spans data engineering, analytics, and people leadership, including leading global engineering teams and building mission-critical platforms at scale. This progression from building platforms to enabling enterprise customers allows me to lead Sales Engineering teams with both technical credibility and a strong business lens, translating technical depth into clear, value-driven narratives for executive and practitioner stakeholders.I hold an MS in Analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton. Outside of work, I’m involved in endurance sports as an athlete and 1:1 coach, applying the same principles of discipline, adaptability, and resilience to leadership and complex problem-solving.Always open to connecting with sales and customer leaders focused on scaling teams and delivering meaningful customer impact.

Experience

1. Sales Engineering Manager, Us West and Anz

   Astronomer

   Jan 2026 — Present · San Diego, CA, US

   Lead SE team execution across US West and ANZ, owning technical win strategy across complex enterprise cycles in financial services, healthcare, and regulated industries• Built SE methodology and enablement frameworks adopted across 30+ SEs; coach team on discovery, executive storytelling, and multi-stakeholder deal navigation• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Product, and CS to align GTM strategy, accelerate pipeline, and ensure a clean pre-to-post-sales handoff on enterprise and strategic accounts

Education

• Georgia Institute of Technology

  Master of Science - MS

• Cincinnati Country Day School

  High School Diploma

• University of Dayton

  Bachelor of Science - BS

Skills

• Gd&T
• Public Speaking
• Ansys
• Siemens Nx
• Management
• Product Development
• Project Management
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mentoring
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Finite Element Analysis
• Communication
• Fluid Mechanics
• Problem Solving
• Model Based Definition (Mbd)
• Leadership
• Aerospace
• Creativity Skills
• Java
• Python
• Thermodynamics
• Matlab
• Computer-Aided Design (Cad)
• Teamwork
• Customer Service