Sales Manager

Autonomous Systems & Defence Technology

Location: France (Nationwide)

Airbotics Talent are partnered with a global technology company developing advanced hardware, software and integrated solutions for defence and autonomous systems applications.

We are looking for a Sales Manager to spearhead new business development and strategic partnerships across Southern Europe, with a particular focus on the rapidly expanding European defence and unmanned systems markets.

This is a genuine hunter focused position, suited to an ambitious, commercially driven sales professional with an established industry network and a proven ability to open doors, develop strategic relationships and win new customers.

You will have the opportunity to build a regional business from the ground up, engaging directly with defence organisations, OEMs, government stakeholders, system integrators and emerging defence technology companies.

The business operates both as a direct technology supplier to end customers and as a Tier 1 partner to OEMs, integrating advanced technologies into next generation products and platforms.

The Role

You will take ownership of new business development and strategic customer partnerships across Southern Europe, with responsibility for:

• Driving new customer acquisition, proactively identifying, approaching and securing new business across defence, aerospace, unmanned systems and related technology markets.
• Leveraging an established network of defence OEMs, government organisations, system integrators and technology companies to generate qualified opportunities.
• Building strategic partnerships with customers and OEMs, positioning advanced technologies within future product generations and long term development programmes.
• Developing relationships with senior commercial, engineering, product management and procurement stakeholders, influencing technical and commercial decisions.
• Selling hardware led solutions, supported by complementary software and services, into complex defence, aerospace and autonomous systems applications.
• Identifying opportunities across unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), defence autonomy platforms and related mission critical technologies.
• Owning the complete sales cycle, from prospecting and opportunity qualification through technical engagement, commercial negotiation and contract closure.
• Building and managing a strong regional pipeline, maintaining accurate forecasts and delivering against ambitious new business targets.
• Collaborating with internal engineering, product and commercial teams to develop compelling technical solutions and win complex programmes.
• Representing the business at customer meetings, industry events and defence, aerospace and technology exhibitions across the region.

The initial focus will be entirely on new business generation, rather than managing an established portfolio of accounts.

The Person

We are particularly interested in commercially successful Sales Managers, Business Development Managers, Sales Directors and Strategic Partnership Managers with established relationships across the European defence and aerospace markets.

You are likely to bring:

• A minimum of 12 years' experience in B2B technology sales and new customer acquisition, ideally within defence, aerospace, unmanned systems or related hardware intensive markets.
• An established network of decision makers within defence OEMs, government organisations, system integrators or advanced technology manufacturers.
• Proven success personally generating pipeline, developing new customer relationships and closing significant commercial opportunities.
• Experience selling complex hardware or integrated hardware, software and services solutions, ideally into defence OEM programmes or mission critical applications.
• Strong understanding of strategic partnerships, OEM sales cycles and how technology suppliers become embedded within customers' future products and platforms.
• The commercial confidence to engage senior executives alongside engineering, product management and technical stakeholders.
• A proactive, independent and entrepreneurial approach, comfortable building a new market with limited initial infrastructure or support.
• Strong pipeline management, forecasting and negotiation skills, with a consistent record of achieving or exceeding sales targets.
• Willingness to travel regularly across Southern Europe for customer meetings, industry events and business development activities.

Direct experience selling into the defence sector would be particularly valuable, especially candidates with active relationships across French and Southern European defence OEMs, government customers and unmanned systems programmes.

This position is unlikely to suit candidates whose experience is primarily account management, customer retention or managing established revenue portfolios without substantial new business acquisition.

Why Join?

• Take ownership of business development and strategic partnerships across Southern Europe.
• Capitalise on significant growth opportunities within European defence, aerospace and autonomous systems markets.
• Represent an established global technology organisation with a broad portfolio of advanced hardware, software and integrated solutions.
• Develop long term relationships with defence OEMs, government organisations and emerging technology companies.
• Enjoy substantial commercial autonomy, with the opportunity to build and shape a regional business from the ground up.
• Work closely with international engineering, product and commercial teams on complex, high value technology programmes.

Location & Travel

The position can be based anywhere in France, with responsibility for customers and strategic partnerships across Southern Europe.

Regular regional travel will be required, alongside occasional international travel for customer meetings, internal collaboration and industry events.

Airbotics Talent are committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities. All candidates are assessed solely on suitability for our clients' requirements without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history or marital status.