Sales Director

Sales Director Maritime Autonomous Systems (Defence & Special Operations) Location: UK, remote or hybrid with regular travel (UK and Canada) Base Salary: £75,000 - £100,000 DOE+ Equity Shares + Benefits The opportunity A fast-growing marine USV technology company is bringing a new class of autonomous surface capability to allied defence markets. Its capabilities combine high-speed response with persistent, low-signature ISR in demanding sea states, and are available now for demonstration and trials. This is a first-hire, build-the-market role. You'll open doors with UK prime contractors and the maritime special operations community in the UK primarily and Canada, turning a proven platform into trials, teaming agreements and orders. What you'll do

• Build strategic relationships with UK primes and Tier 1 integrators, positioning the platform as a sensor-carrying, low-signature node within larger naval and autonomous systems programmes
• Develop the UK maritime special operations market, including the Special Boat Service and wider UKSF maritime capability, through end-user engagement, demonstrations and trials
• Grow business with Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) and the Royal Canadian Navy, alongside Canadian primes and procurement bodies
• Identify primes bidding Canadian programmes that need Canadian industrial participation, and build teaming routes on the back of it
• Run demonstrations, sea trials and user evaluations, working closely with engineering to feed operator insight into the product roadmap
• Lead capture and bid activity, including teaming agreements, proposals and pricing inputs
• Represent the business at DSEI, SOF Week, CANSEC and uncrewed maritime events
• Own pipeline, forecasting and reporting to the leadership team What you'll bring
• A track record of winning new business in UK defence, ideally in maritime, uncrewed or ISR systems
• An established network across UK primes and the naval or special operations community
• Working knowledge of MOD, DE&S and UKSF procurement routes, with Canadian DND or ITB experience a strong advantage
• The credibility to engage operators, engineers and commercial decision makers equally well
• Comfort with export control regimes (UK Strategic Export Controls, Canadian Controlled Goods Program, ITAR awareness)
• An entrepreneurial, self-starting approach suited to an early-stage, scaling business
• Willingness to travel regularly, including to Canada Desirable
• Royal Navy, Royal Marines or SBS / SF background, particularly maritime
• Experience with USVs, UUVs, maritime ISR payloads or C4ISR integration
• Exposure to programmes such as maritime autonomy, littoral strike or port and harbour security Applicants must be eligible for UK security clearance.