Sales Manager (Defence)

TL;DR

Sales Manager (Defence): Building and owning the business development function in Europe for a high-growth defencetech start-up with an accent on government contracts and strategic growth. Focus on establishing relationships with European Navies and Ministries of Defence to scale the commercial division.

Location: Frequent travel across Europe

Company

A high-growth defencetech start-up focusing on emerging technologies for the maritime and defence sectors.

What you will do

• Define and execute the European go-to-market strategy, identifying priority markets and procurement pathways.
• Lead engagement and drive the full sales lifecycle with European Navies, Ministries of Defence, and procurement organisations.
• Build the business development function from the ground up, implementing CRM discipline and reporting structures.
• Establish strategic partnerships with primes, integrators, and local players in the defence sector.
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to align the technical roadmap with customer needs and market intelligence.

Requirements

• 5–10+ years of experience in business development or sales within the defence, maritime, or aerospace sectors.
• Proven track record of winning or contributing to government or defence contracts.
• Deep understanding of European defence procurement cycles and naval operations.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies such as autonomy, ISR, sensors, and AI.
• Willingness to travel frequently across Europe.
• Eligibility to work with defence-related technologies (security clearance may be required).

Culture & Benefits

• Foundational role in a high-growth startup with significant influence on product direction.
• Rapid progression path into Head of or Director-level leadership positions.
• Opportunity to work directly with the founding team in a high-impact environment.