Senior Business Developer AIKO

WIA-Europe; Toulouse; Hybrid; EUR 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Restaurant tickets

Health insurance

Flexible hours

Remote working available

Duvet Day

Wellness package

Courses for skills improvement

Job summary

AIKO in France seeks a Senior Business Developer to accelerate growth and drive revenue across its space software, AI and automation portfolio. You will own the full BD cycle, build a French/European network, and coordinate with France and Italy teams to translate technology into customer value.

The role requires a strong space industry network, fluent French and professional English, and a proactive, autonomous approach in a fast-growing SME setting.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, business, aerospace, or related field.
• 5-7 years of professional experience in business development, sales or related role in space/aerospace.
• Proven ability to generate, develop and close opportunities with strong results mindset.
• Strong network within the French space ecosystem incl. CNES, ESA or space agencies.

Responsibilities

• Drive business development activities in France across AIKO’s portfolio and contribute to Europe-wide initiatives.
• Identify, qualify and develop new opportunities with institutional and commercial customers.
• Own opportunities through the full BD cycle from prospecting to contract signature.
• Build and expand a network across French and European space ecosystem.
• Lead preparation of high-quality proposals and responses to calls/tenders.
• Develop partnerships and consortium opportunities to access new markets.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Networking in space

French & English proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

CRM experience

Job description

Overview

AIKO is looking for a Senior Business Developer to accelerate the growth of its activities in France and contribute to the Group’s business development efforts across Europe. This is a highly proactive, revenue-oriented role for an experienced professional able to identify, qualify, develop and close new business opportunities across AIKO’s full portfolio of space software, artificial intelligence and automation solutions.

The Senior Business Developer will own opportunities throughout the full business development cycle, from market intelligence and lead generation to proposal preparation, negotiation and contract signature. The role requires a strong existing network in the French and European space ecosystem, a solid understanding of institutional and commercial procurement processes, and the ability to operate independently while collaborating closely with AIKO teams in France and Italy.

Tasks

• Drive business development activities in France across AIKO’s full portfolio of technologies and products, while contributing to Group-level commercial initiatives in coordination with the AIKO mission solution team.
• Proactively identify,qualifyand develop new business opportunities with institutional and commercial customers, with a strong focus on generating revenue and securing new contracts.
• Own and manage opportunities throughout the full business development cycle, from prospecting and first contact to proposal preparation, negotiation and contract signature.
• Build, activate and expand a strong network across the French and European space ecosystem, including major industrial players,NewSpacecompanies, institutional customers, agencies and strategic partners.
• Lead and coordinate the preparation of high-quality commercial and institutional proposals, including responses to CNES,ESAand European Commission calls and tenders.
• Develop strategic partnerships and consortium opportunities that strengthen AIKO’s positioning and access to new markets and customers.
• Work closely with engineering, product and management teams to translate AIKO’s technical capabilities into compelling value propositions adapted to customer needs.
• Maintain an active and structured business pipeline, define account and opportunity strategies, and provide clear visibility on progress, priorities, risks and next actions.
• Represent AIKO at key industry events, conferences, customer meetings and networking opportunities in France and Europe, with the objective of generating and converting leads.
• Monitor market dynamics, customer needs, fundingprogrammesand competitive developments to identify new growth opportunities and contribute to AIKO’s commercial strategy.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in engineering, business, aerospace, oranotherrelevant technical or commercial field.
• 5-7 years of professional experience in business development, sales or a closely related commercial role within the space or aerospace sector.
• Proven ability to independently generate, develop and convert business opportunities, with a strong results-driven and revenue-oriented mindset.
• Strong existing network within the French space ecosystem, ideally including relationships with major industrial players,NewSpacecompanies, institutional customers and space agencies.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and coordinating proposals for institutionalprogrammesand calls, particularly CNES, ESA and/or European Commission opportunities.
• Solid understanding of the space market, its main stakeholders, procurement mechanisms, commercialcyclesand institutional funding landscape.
• Ability to understand complex technical products and services and translate them into clear, customer-focused business value propositions.
• Excellent communication, writing, presentation and negotiation skills, with the confidence to engage senior-level stakeholders.
• Highly proactive, autonomous,dynamicand accountable, with the ability to identify opportunities and drive them forward without requiring close supervision.
• Ability to work effectively in an international and cross-functional environment, collaborating closely with teams based in France and Italy.
• Native or fully professional proficiency in French and full professional proficiency in English.

Preferred Experience

• Proven track record of winning and closing contracts in the French or European space sector.
• Hands-on experience leading complex bids, tenders and institutional proposals from opportunity identification through submission and negotiation.
• Established relationships with organizations such as CNES, ESA, the European Commission, major space primes and/or leadingNewSpacecompanies.
• Experience selling software, AI, autonomy, onboard software, ground-segment solutions or other advanced deep-tech products to space-sector customers.
• Experience developing strategic partnerships, consortium structures or co-funded project opportunities.
• Experience working in a fast-growing SME, deep-tech company orNewSpaceenvironment where autonomy, ownership and speed of execution are essential.
• Experience using CRM and pipeline-management tools to structure prospecting, opportunity follow-up and sales forecasting.

Benefits

AIKO provides the following benefits, in addition to the retribution:

• Electronic restaurant tickets
• Health insurance with 50% of the cost paid by the company
• Flexible working hours, and remote working is available.
• Duvet Day
• Wellness Package (Gym and Psychotherapy)
• Access to courses for skills improvement
• Salary for the role: 45-55K + variable compensation on target

Hiring Process:

The interview process for this role will somewhat look like:

• 1st Stage: Interview with our People & Talent
• 2nd Stage: Interview with our France Country Manager & our Head of Mission Solutions
• We hopefully make you an offer!

DEI in AIKO

AIKO is an equal-opportunity employer.