UAS Account & Portfolio Director

Thales USA, Inc. (AMS); Bismarck (ND); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Referral bonus (Tier 1)

Health benefits

Retirement plan with company match

Paid holidays and PTO

Job summary

Thales USA, Inc. (AMS) seeks a UAS Account & Portfolio Director in Grand Forks, ND, with remote or hybrid work options. You will shape market strategy, expand the UTM/UAS portfolio, and build partnerships with government and industry to integrate UAS/AAM into NAS.

You will lead cross‑functional teams, manage ~$20M revenue targets today with growth to double within five years, and travel up to 30% domestically and internationally as needed; a strong background in aviation and UAS is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as engineering, business, or aviation.
• 10+ years of professional experience in the aviation/UAS industry.
• 10+ years of experience working with or within state and local government.
• 5+ years of project or team leadership with virtual teams and stakeholder influence.

Responsibilities

• Position Thales as a global leader in UTM/UAS integration by defining market strategies and representing Thales at key events.
• Build a long-term pipeline, expand market share, and drive growth through opportunities and partnerships.
• Develop and execute business and account plans reflecting customer priorities and growth initiatives with the UTM team.
• Align internal and external stakeholders, share customer insights, and coordinate account and sales teams to advance opportunities and secure orders.
• Direct and monitor bids, projects, and programs across assigned accounts to deliver results and governance compliance.
• Serve as the primary customer contact, building trust and loyalty, addressing satisfaction, and driving strategic initiatives.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic market development

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in engineering, business, or aviation

Job description

Location: North Dakota Remote, United States of AmericaThales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

UAS Account & Portfolio Director

Grand Forks, North Dakota, (Remote or Hybrid) EST Time Zone Preferred

Position Summary

Thales is looking for a UAS Account & Portfolio Director, whose role involves developing the market and identifying business opportunities for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) integration into the national airspace system (NAS).

In this position, you will join the Uncrewed Traffic Management (UTM) team within the Airspace Mobility Solutions Business Line, working with federal and state governments and industry organizations to support the safe and secure introduction of UAS/AAM operations into communities across the country. You will help expand upon the success of the Vantis program in North Dakota, contributing to business growth in a dynamic and rapidly evolving sector.

Referral Bonus Eligibility: Tier 1 - $2,50 0

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Position Thales as a global leader in UTM/UAS integration by defining market strategies, strengthening portfolio competitiveness, and representing Thales at key industry events.
• Build a long-term pipeline, expand market share, and drive above-market growth through strategic opportunities and customer partnerships.
• Develop and execute business and account plans that reflect customer priorities, competitive insights, and growth initiatives in collaboration with the UTM team.
• Align internal and external stakeholders, share customer insights, and coordinate account and sales teams to advance opportunities and secure orders.
• Direct and monitor bids, projects, and programs across assigned accounts to deliver business results, customer satisfaction, and compliance with governance requirements.
• Serve as the primary customer contact, building trust and loyalty, addressing satisfaction concerns, and driving strategic initiatives that support short- and medium-term growth.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field, such as engineering, business, or aviation.
• 10+ years of professional experience in the aviation and/or UAS industry.
• 10+ years of professional experience working with or within state and local government.
• 5+ years of project or team leadership experience, with demonstrated ability to motivate teams, drive results across virtual teams, and represent Thales Group as a whole.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with initiative, curiosity, and autonomy, complemented by strong team-building, communication, influencing, and negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to travel up to 30% to customer locations, other Thales sites, including international locations, and industry events.

Special Position Requirements

• Extensive exposure to and knowledge of the UAS industry.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% to support business needs.
• Ability to visit customer sites regularly to perform essential job responsibilities.
• Manage a business portfolio targeting approximately $20M in order intake, with the expectation of more than doubling that figure within five years.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-Remote

#LI-MR1

This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with applicable federal law, state law (the California Fair Chance Act), and local ordinances (San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and Los Angeles County’s Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers).

Thales champions inclusion and we believe diversity strengthens the fabric of our culture. Thales is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans.

The reference Total Target Compensation (TTC) market range for this position, inclusive of annual base salary and the variable compensation target, is between

Total Target Cash (TTC) 129,704.70 - 221,177.60 USD Annual

This reflects how companies in a similar industry and geographic region generally pay for similar jobs. This range helps the Company make pay decisions as one data point among many. Where a position falls within this range is also dependent on other factors including - but not limited to - the employee’s career path history, competencies, skills and performance, as well as the company’s annual salary budget, the customer’s program requirements, and the company’s internal equity. Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s status protected by local, state, or federal law.

(For Internal candidate, if you need more information, please raise HR request through MyThales).

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following:

• Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period
• Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off
• Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program