(Senior) Sales Manager (m/w/d) Defence

This position has one objective: revenue . You will build the sales pipeline for the German and European defence market: identifying opportunities, earning the trust of the right decision-makers, and closing deals. You are not a strategist in the background, and you are not an account manager maintaining existing clients. You hunt. You work directly with the founders, with short decision paths and no bureaucracy. What you close is what counts, not what you plan. Ideally, you know the defence landscape not just from a bird's-eye view but from having lived it, whether in uniform or through years of close collaboration with military stakeholders. You are the bridge between our cutting-edge engineering and the operational requirements of the end users.

What you’ll do:

• Pipeline & closing: You own the full sales cycle, from first outreach to contract signature. You build a qualified pipeline, actively navigate complex procurement processes, and close contracts with defence primes, system integrators, and ministries of defence. Pipeline without closure is not success.
• Market access & network: You open new accounts before a formal requirement has even emerged. You represent ZeroPhase at relevant industry events and leverage your existing network to access decision-makers that others simply cannot reach.
• Voice of the customer: You bring structured market feedback directly to the founders, not as a side activity, but because you are the key person in the company who speaks to end users every day.

What we’re looking for:

• Track record in strategic sales: You have built pipeline, managed cycles, and closed deals in a complex B2B environment with long decision horizons. You can prove it.
• Hunter mentality: You don't wait for inbound. If no conversations are running, you get restless. You identify opportunities proactively and build relationships before a need is formalised.
• Technical literacy: You are not intimidated by deep tech. You understand the basics of RF communications, data links, or electronic warfare and can articulate technical advantages without reading from a script.
• Presence & network: You have the standing to engage senior decision-makers from the military and industry as a peer.
• Operational readiness: Willingness to travel to customer sites and test ranges. You thrive in a high-pressure, mission-driven environment.
• Communication: You can hold your own in a room with generals and procurement chiefs. Native-level German, business-fluent English.
• Defence network: Existing relationships with BAAINBw, Tier-1 primes (Rheinmetall, Hensoldt, Airbus Defence), or comparable NATO procurement bodies are a strong plus.

What we offer:

• This is not a static role. As ZeroPhase grows, so does your responsibility.