Defense Sales FR - H/F

ABOUT ALTA ARES Alta Ares is an air defense Neoprime. We build AI-guided interceptors to counter drones and cruise missiles, along with the software platform that powers them. Our customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and our systems are regularly deployed during live exercises and operational demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Founded in 2024, we have grown to 90 people, raised over $60M, and increased revenue 40× this year. We are now entering a new phase of international expansion, industrial scaling, fundraising, and product development. ROLE & MISSION Defense Sales & Business Development - Own the sales pipeline across French MOD, procurement agencies, and armed forces - Lead qualification, opportunity shaping, proposal management, and contract negotiations - Identify and drive multi-million programs across ISR, C-UAS, autonomy, and AI - Establish a repeatable sales motion with clear forecasting and metrics - Convert tactical demos and pilot deployments into scalable contracts Customer & Partner Relationships - Build trusted relationships with military users, procurement officers, and program managers - Engage with primes, neoprimes, integrators, and defense engineering firms - Develop and manage channel partnerships where relevant - Conduct regular on-site visits, field demos, and customer workshops across Europe Market Expansion & Strategic Development - Map European defense markets: budgets, procurement cycles, capability gaps - Shape requirements for upcoming tenders and influence capability roadmaps - Provide competitive intelligence and product feedback to engineering & founders - Support localization strategies for key European countries Cross-functional Collaboration - Work closely with Engineering, Product, and Operations teams to align demos, deployments, and delivery - Help refine pricing strategy, sales collateral, and customer-facing documentation - Contribute to showcasing Alta Ares at major defense exhibitions (Eurosatory, DSEI, MSPO, IDEX, etc.) REQUIREMENTS   CANDIDATE PROFILE - 5–10 years of experience in defense sales, business development, capture management, or program engagement - Strong track record selling to MODs, procurement agencies, or armed forces - Experience in defense tech companies, primes, or ideally neoprimes (e.g., Anduril, Helsing, Palantir, Shield AI, or equivalent) - Deep understanding of defense procurement cycles and bidding processes - Demonstrated ability to close complex deals in multi-stakeholder environments - Experience working with drones, C-UAS, ISR, AI autonomy, or adjacent systems is a major plus Skills & Qualities - Strong hunter profile with resilience and deal-making mindset - Ability to translate technical capabilities into operational value - Excellent relationship-building with military and technical stakeholders - High integrity, discretion, and understanding of security culture - Entrepreneurial spirit: able to operate in fast-moving, resource-efficient environments - Bilingual English + another European language (French strongly preferred)   NICE TO HAVE - Experience in a neoprime or high-growth defense startup - Experience in NATO procurement or European Defence Fund (EDF) programs - Former military service (officer or NCO) - Knowledge of operational C-UAS, ISR, or AI workflows - Existing network inside European MODs and procurement bodies - Ability to support deployments and demos in live environments