MCO Program Lead — Build & Scale Defense Services

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

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.