MCO Manager H/F

Alta Ares; Blagnac; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Alta Ares, a defender of airspace with AI-guided interceptors, seeks a senior MCO leader to own P&L, design service packages, and negotiate contracts with defence customers. You will set fleet KPIs, design maintenance across customers and partners, and ensure parts availability for long-term support.

You will coordinate upgrades with R&D and Production, build training programmes, and hire/lead the growing MCO team as contracts scale. Travel internationally expected.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years in defense or aerospace, including building/running an MCO or in-service support contract.
• P&L ownership and contract negotiation with government customers.
• Track record of building a team or activity from zero.
• Solid command of reliability and availability metrics.
• Fluent in English and French.
• Willing to travel internationally; eligible for French security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Build Alta Ares' MCO offer from scratch: service packages, SLAs and pricing.
• Own the MCO P&L and support Sales in negotiating MCO contracts with defence customers.
• Set up and steer fleet performance KPIs (availability, MTBF, MTTR).
• Design the maintenance organisation across customers, local partners and Alta Ares.
• Ensure spare parts availability and long-term support of critical components.
• Coordinate software and fleet upgrades with R&D and Production.
• Build customer training programmes.
• Hire and lead the MCO team as contracts grow.

Skills

MCO leadership

P&L ownership

Contract negotiation

Team building

Reliability metrics

Travel willingness

Fluent English

French language

Security clearance

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.

Responsibilities

• Build Alta Ares' MCO offer from scratch: service packages, SLAs and pricing.
• Own the MCO P&L and support Sales in negotiating MCO contracts with defence customers.
• Set up and steer fleet performance KPIs (availability, MTBF, MTTR).
• Design the maintenance organisation across customers, local partners and Alta Ares.
• Ensure spare parts availability and long-term support of critical components.
• Coordinate software and fleet upgrades with R&D and Production.
• Build customer training programmes.
• Hire and lead the MCO team as contracts grow.

Candidate Profile

• 8 to 12 years in defense or aerospace, including building and running an MCO or in-service support contract.
• P&L ownership and contract negotiation with government customers.
• Track record of building a team or an activity from zero.
• Solid command of reliability and availability metrics.
• Fluent in English and additionally in French
• Willing to travel internationally; eligible for French security clearance.