Defense Sales Manager – Middle East & Africa

About the role

Alta Ares is seeking a Defence Sales Manager for the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region. Based in the Gulf, you will lead commercial development across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, working directly with armed forces, ministries of defence and regional industrial partners.

Key responsibilities

• Own and drive the full sales pipeline for Gulf defence clients, from lead qualification to contract negotiation.
• Develop proposals and secure contracts for ISR, C‑UAS, autonomous and AI‑enabled systems.
• Identify and pursue relevant procurement vehicles, tenders and bilateral cooperation frameworks.
• Maintain accurate forecasting and report pipeline status to senior leadership.
• Build senior‑level relationships with military end‑users, procurement officials and MOD programme managers.
• Engage with regional defence primes and channel partners such as EDGE Group, SAMI and Thales UAE.
• Represent Alta Ares at key regional defence events (IDEX, World Defence Show, Milipol Qatar, DSEI Arabia).

Required profile

• Proven experience selling complex defence or security solutions in the Gulf region.
• Deep understanding of Gulf procurement cultures, local‑content requirements and offset policies.
• Strong network with military and defence industry stakeholders in UAE, KSA, Qatar and Kuwait.
• Ability to operate autonomously and report directly to senior leadership in Paris.

Required skills

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape the commercial footprint of a fast‑growing AI‑driven defence company.
• Competitive compensation package and performance‑based incentives.
• Dynamic, international work environment with high‑visibility projects.