About this role
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.
Position detailsLocation: UK-based (UK), mobility required
Reports to: CEO and Executive Board/Comex
Position objective: Drive Alta Ares’ commercial expansion across the United Kingdom by securing defense contracts, building relationships with procurement agencies, and positioning Alta Ares as a category-defining leader in AI-enabled defense systems. We are looking for a high-performance sales leader with a strong background in the defense industry, ideally with experience in neoprimes or advanced defense tech companies.
Role & MissionDefense Sales & Business Development
Own the sales pipeline across UK 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.)
Candidate profile5–10 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 HaveExperience 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