---
title: 'Defence Sales Manager - Canada at Alta Ares'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/defence-sales-manager-canada-alta-ares-ottawa-grs9h2y5yqm6'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-10'
---

# Defence Sales Manager - Canada at Alta Ares

- **Company:** Alta Ares
- **Location:** Ottawa, Canada / Toronto, Canada
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-11-09
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-10
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/alta-ares/3b329e1d-8699-4945-91a6-cba474108689

## Job description

## 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.

## About the role

Alta Ares is building its Canadian presence, and this is the first senior commercial hire on the ground. You will own Alta Ares’ business in Canada. You will set the strategy, build partnerships with Canadian primes and integrators, and position Alta Ares as the partner of choice for AI-enabled defence capability in Canada. Ottawa sits at the centre of Canada’s defence procurement apparatus (DND, PSPC, ISED, the Defence Investment Agency) and its industrial base. Canada is significantly increasing defence investment. Its priorities include NORAD modernisation, Arctic surveillance, counter-UAS and ISR, all of which align directly with Alta Ares’ capabilities. This role is for someone who already has the network and credibility in this market, and who wants to build a business line from the ground up with the backing of a fast-growing European defence tech company.

## What you’ll do

Strategy & leadership

- Define and execute Alta Ares’ Canadian go-to-market strategy, including target programmes, partner priorities and annual revenue and pipeline objectives.
- Recommend and help set up the right Canadian structure (partnerships, local entity, Canadian content approach) in coordination with leadership in Paris.
- Act as Alta Ares’ senior representative in Canada with industry, government and the wider defence community.

Industrial partnerships & sales

- Develop strategic partnerships with Canadian primes and integrators such as CAE, MDA Space, L3Harris Canada, General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada, Rheinmetall Canada, Kongsberg Canada and others.
- Lead negotiations on teaming agreements, MoUs, subcontracts and co-development frameworks, from first contact to signed contract.
- Identify and lead joint bids on Canadian and NATO programmes.
- Maintain accurate pipeline forecasting and report to the GM North America and executive leadership.

Government & ecosystem engagement

- Build relationships with DND, CAF capability sponsors, PSPC, ISED and the Defence Investment Agency to understand upcoming requirements. Engage through legitimate channels: RFIs, industry days and consultations.
- Develop ITB and Value Proposition strategies with Canadian partners.
- Pursue innovation and funding pathways, including IDEaS, DRDC, NRC IRAP and CANSOFCOM/CAF innovation challenges.
- Represent Alta Ares within CADSI and at key events such as CANSEC and DEFSEC Atlantic.

Cross-functional & compliance

- Work with Engineering and Product in Paris to align demonstrations, technical proposals and delivery commitments with Canadian requirements.
- Lead capability briefings and demonstrations for industrial and government audiences.
- Coordinate with the GM North America on cross-border opportunities, particularly NORAD and Five Eyes initiatives.
- Ensure compliance with Canadian export and controlled goods requirements (EIPA, Controlled Goods Program), the French export control regime (CIEEMG), ITAR where applicable, and the Lobbying Act.

## What we’re looking for

Must-have

- 5+ years in defence business development, capture or industrial partnerships in Canada, with a track record of closing partnerships or contracts.
- An established network across Canadian primes and DND/PSPC.
- Hands-on experience with ITB/Value Proposition requirements and Canadian procurement processes.
- Experience negotiating teaming agreements, subcontracts or MoUs.
- Professional fluency in English.
- Legally eligible to work in Canada, and eligible to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance (Secret) and Controlled Goods Program assessment.

Nice-to-have

- French proficiency. It is a real asset in Ottawa and for day-to-day work with our Paris HQ.
- A background in C-UAS, ISR, AI/autonomy, UAS or adjacent technologies.
- Experience in a defence tech scale-up, or launching a foreign company’s presence in Canada.
- Familiarity with NORAD modernisation, Arctic programmes or RCAF/RCN platform upgrades.
- Military service or prior DND experience.

## How you work

- You have commercial drive and patience for long, relationship-driven procurement cycles.
- You build autonomously with lean resources and report clearly to a remote HQ.
- You exercise discretion and integrity in a security-sensitive environment.
- You work comfortably across Canadian and European business cultures.

## About Alta Ares

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Alta Ares builds an autonomous AI stack for next-generation air defense, ISTAR, and mission management, delivering counter-drone systems and edge intelligence to allied militaries.
- **Entity Type**: Private (raised pre-seed and seed rounds; most recent €50M funding announced June 2026)
- **Headquarters**: Paris, France (strategic offices in Toulouse, Kyiv, Abu Dhabi, New York, Athens, Munich, and London)
- **Founded**: 2024
- **Founders**: Hadrien C. (CEO), Alain H. (Co-Founder), Stanislas W. (Co-Founder & COO) – per LinkedIn executive data

## Core Business
- **Industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing; AI-powered autonomous systems
- **Target Customers**: Allied governments and armed forces (B2B/B2G)
- **Mission**: “The next decade of allied security will be decided by who controls the autonomous systems above the battlefield. Alta Ares was founded to help ensure that the technologies shaping the future of defense are developed by allies, for allies, and fielded where they can make the greatest difference.” [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/)

## Products & Services
- **Black Bird**: Short- to mid-range multirotor autonomous interceptor for counter-drone swarms, with AI terminal guidance under jamming.
- **X-LOCK**: Mid- to long-range turbojet-powered fixed-wing effector for high-speed interception of drones and glide bombs; optional strike configuration.
- **Cyclops**: Sensor intelligence, mission planning, and flight monitoring system for UAVs – connects radars, classifies tracks, predicts trajectories.
- **Gamma ISTAR**: Real-time video intelligence on the edge for Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. Includes Gamma Core (software deployable on any infrastructure) and Gamma Box (tactical rugged hardware node). Integrated with Gamma Ulixes MLOps platform for continuous model retraining.
- **Pixel Lock**: Software system for detecting, tracking, and guiding interceptors toward moving aerial targets. Acts as visual aid for pilots and as automatic guidance in GNSS-denied environments.
- **Mission Management Layer**: Unified platform combining air defense effectors, ISTAR products, and mission management software for autonomous operations.

[altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total known funding ≈ €50M+ (includes a reported June 2026 round led by top-tier AI and defense investors) [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/); earlier pre-seed ($2.2M) and seed ($2.0M) rounds confirmed on LinkedIn [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alta-ares)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Airbus Defence and Space (signed MoU to co-develop European counter-drone solutions, June 2026); Expansion Ventures (led pre-seed). Other investors not yet named publicly.
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Completed live Arctic trials of Black Bird interceptor with Estonian Defence Forces (Feb 2026)
  - Expanding to Munich and London in 2026
  - Rapid hiring: 19+ active job postings (LinkedIn), 12 listed on Built In
  - LinkedIn followers: 11,265 (+15.8% monthly growth)
  - Team: ~43 employees (LinkedIn) to 62 (Built In), with strong technical talent from defense and aerospace (Armée de Terre, Safran AI, Loft Orbital)

[builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/alta-ares) | [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alta-ares)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Sovereign European stack**: Entire AI and hardware chain developed by European allies, ensuring security and compliance for NATO and allied customers.
- **GNSS-denied operations**: All systems designed to function under jamming and contested environments.
- **Rapid field deployment**: Systems can be deployed by small teams in the field, reducing logistics footprint.
- **Full-stack integration**: One platform combining effectors, ISR, and mission management with edge AI and continuous MLOps.

## Strategic Focus
- Scale manufacturing and deployment of Black Bird, X-LOCK, and Gamma products to meet growing demand from allied nations.
- Deepen integration partnership with Airbus Defence and Space for European counter-drone solutions.
- Expand international presence (Munich, London offices in 2026) and grow sales in Baltic, Indo-Pacific, and Middle Eastern markets.
- Continue investment in AI terminal guidance, sensor fusion, and sovereign MLOps (Gamma Ulixes).

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven**: Directly contribute to European and allied defense autonomy in a critical domain.
- **Cutting-edge tech**: Work on AI, computer vision, autonomous flight, edge computing, and defense-grade hardware.
- **Rapid growth**: Company raised €50M in 2026, tripling headcount timeline; many open engineering and operations roles.
- **Culture**: Described as a “deeptech startup” with a hybrid workspace (combination of remote and on-site); main offices in Paris and Toulouse, plus international hubs.
- **Perks**: Not detailed publicly, but typical for defense tech includes competitive compensation, equity, and mission-critical work. Engineering culture emphasized in job postings.
- **Ideal for**: Engineers (embedded, robotics, GNC, data, ML), test pilots, production managers, defense sales, compliance, and talent acquisition specialists.

## Sources
1. [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/)
2. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/alta-ares)
3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alta-ares)
4. [jobs.workable.com](https://jobs.workable.com/company/dTjqj5nvsJLNhfSDY12XbG/jobs-at-alta-ares)
5. [thecompanycheck.com](https://www.thecompanycheck.com/company/b/alta-ares/l5u43z56vx1ldmfss)

## Other roles at Alta Ares

- [3D & Visual Content Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/3d-visual-content-artist-alta-ares-paris-c7z4g7y9mn9z) — Paris, France
- [Bid & Sales Operations Specialist - MENA](https://feeny.ai/job/bid-sales-operations-specialist-mena-alta-ares-abu-dhabi-v1gd7q1k2wgb) — Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- [GNC Engineer H/F](https://feeny.ai/job/gnc-engineer-h-f-alta-ares-paris-jmd7bgpek1ct) — Paris, France
- [ML Engineer - Internship](https://feeny.ai/job/ml-engineer-internship-alta-ares-paris-zafacqb07w3p) — Paris, France
- [Marketing & Communication - Internship (6 months)](https://feeny.ai/job/marketing-communication-internship-6-months-alta-ares-paris-wj9fn81mt1ty) — Paris, France
- [Certification & Airworthiness Engineer (UAV)](https://feeny.ai/job/certification-airworthiness-engineer-uav-alta-ares-toulouse-xexd5an1qcht) — Toulouse, France
- [Business Development Representative Japan — Internship](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-japan-internship-alta-ares-tokyo-xd296meqgnya) — Tokyo, Japan / Nagoya, Japan
- [Pyrotechnics Engineer H/F](https://feeny.ai/job/pyrotechnics-engineer-h-f-alta-ares-paris-rx0373g9fyxr) — Paris, France
- [Flight Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-test-engineer-alta-ares-toulouse-99t0asqgtsy6) — Toulouse, France
- [Avionics Electronics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/avionics-electronics-engineer-alta-ares-toulouse-9b47t99mkvqv) — Toulouse, France