As Defence Sales Manager APAC, you will own Alta Ares' commercial development across the entire Asia-Pacific region. Based in Singapore, you will build the pipeline from scratch across Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, positioning Alta Ares as the AI-enabled defence partner of choice for APAC armed forces. You will drive sales, manage institutional relations, gather market intelligence, and coordinate cross-functionally with Paris leadership.

Responsibilities

Own and drive the full APAC sales pipeline across priority markets: Japan (MOD / ATLA / SDF), South Korea (DAPA / ROK Armed Forces), Australia (Defence / CASG / ADF), New Zealand (NZDF), Singapore (MINDEF / SAF), and broader Southeast Asia
Lead qualification, opportunity shaping, proposal development, and contract negotiations across ISR, C-UAS, autonomy, and AI programmes
Identify and pursue relevant procurement vehicles across each market: AUKUS Pillar II opportunities, Japan's counter-drone programmes, South Korea's defence AI initiatives, and Singapore's C-UAS requirements
Convert demonstrations, pilot engagements, and proof-of-concept deployments into scalable, long-term contracts
Maintain accurate pipeline forecasting and deal tracking, reported regularly to the Head of Sales and top management
Build and maintain trusted, senior-level relationships with military end-users, procurement officials, and MOD programme managers across APAC
Engage with regional defence primes and industrial partners as teaming and channel partners: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hanwha Defence, BAE Systems Australia, ST Engineering, and equivalent
Navigate the specific procurement culture of each APAC market — understanding bilateral cooperation frameworks, foreign vendor access rules, and local industrial partnership requirements
Represent Alta Ares at key regional defence events: IMDEX Asia, Indo Pacific, DSEI Japan, Seoul ADEX, Avalon Airshow, and bilateral exercises
Map APAC defence markets across all priority countries: procurement budgets, capability gaps, C-UAS and ISR priorities, threat environments, and competitive landscape
Track regional security dynamics and their procurement implications: Taiwan Strait tensions, North Korean drone proliferation, South China Sea, and Indo-Pacific alliance frameworks (AUKUS, Quad, Five Eyes)
Monitor bilateral defence cooperation frameworks between France, EU, and APAC nations relevant to Alta Ares' market access
Provide regular market intelligence and strategic recommendations to the Paris leadership team
Support export compliance across multiple jurisdictions: French AECA, Australian export controls, Japanese security trade regulations, ITAR considerations
Work closely with Engineering and Product in Paris to align demo schedules, technical proposals, and delivery timelines with APAC client requirements
Prepare and deliver tailored capability briefings, product demonstrations, and technical presentations for diverse APAC military and institutional audiences
Coordinate logistics for client visits, field demonstrations, and operational showcases across the region
Act as the cultural and operational bridge between APAC partners and Alta Ares HQ in Paris — translating context, expectations, and timelines in both directions
Brief leadership on pipeline status, key account developments, and strategic risks across APAC

Requirements

4–7 years of experience in defence sales, business development, or programme management — with direct exposure to APAC defence procurement across at least two of the priority markets
Proven track record building relationships and closing contracts with APAC military or government clients
Experience working with or within a defence prime, neoprime, or advanced defence tech company operating in APAC (e.g., Thales, Airbus Defence, BAE Systems, Elbit, Palantir, Anduril, or equivalent)
Demonstrated ability to manage a multi-country sales territory simultaneously with different procurement cultures, timelines, and access requirements
English fluency — mandatory: primary language across all APAC markets and internal reporting

Nice to have

Background in C-UAS, ISR, AI autonomy, or adjacent systems is a strong plus
Additional Asian language is a strong plus: Japanese, Korean, or Mandarin significantly increases effectiveness in key markets
French is a meaningful plus — direct communication with Paris HQ