Business Development Representative - Southern Europe

About the role

Alta Ares is an air defense company building AI-guided interceptors against drones and cruise missiles, together with the software platform that powers them. Its customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and its systems are used in live exercises and demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Founded in 2024 and now growing internationally, the company is looking for a Business Development Representative based in Paris to build and manage a pipeline across Southern Europe.

Key responsibilities

• Build and manage a qualified pipeline across Southern Europe, identifying and engaging MODs, armed forces, procurement agencies and defense companies.
• Carry out outbound prospecting by email, phone, events and industry networks, researching accounts, programs, procurement cycles and decision-makers.
• Qualify prospects and turn them into meetings, demos and active sales opportunities, working with the Sales Director and senior BD team.
• Maintain accurate CRM data, pipeline tracking and business development metrics.
• Build relationships with military users, procurement officers, program managers, primes and integrators, and develop local industry and channel partnerships.
• Support customer meetings, product briefings, demonstrations and workshops, and provide market intelligence and competitive insights to BD, Product, Engineering and leadership.
• Represent Alta Ares at defense exhibitions and conferences in Southern Europe.
• Map Southern European defense markets, track budgets, tenders, exercises and capability requirements, and look for opportunities in C-UAS, ISR, autonomy, AI and air defense.

Required profile

• 1-4 years of experience in business development, sales development, defense, technology, consulting or a related field.
• Proven ability to prospect, research accounts, generate meetings and build a pipeline.
• Strong interest in defense, aerospace, AI or national security.
• Familiarity with the Southern European defense ecosystem.
• Fluent English and strong proficiency in a Southern European language; Italian or Spanish preferred.
• Willingness to travel regularly across Southern Europe.

Nice to have

• Experience in defense, aerospace, dual-use technology, AI or a high-growth startup.
• Network within Southern European defense organizations or industry.
• Familiarity with NATO and European defense procurement.
• Experience with drones, C-UAS, ISR, autonomy, AI or air defense.
• Experience with CRM and sales engagement tools.
• Additional European languages.
• Former military experience.