Sales Lead / Business Development Manager (Nordics) at Helsing

Who we are Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards. As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously. We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications. The role As a Sales Lead / Business Development Manager at Helsing, you will be instrumental in driving the market presence and revenue growth of our cutting-edge AI software and Recce Strike Complex products within the Nordics defence sector. You will shape and execute Helsing's sales strategy, identify and secure new business opportunities, and cultivate strategic partnerships with key government customers and industry stakeholders. This role requires a unique blend of strategic vision, commercial acumen, and deep domain expertise to bridge market trends with client needs, ultimately translating these into successful sales outcomes. You will independently lead complex sales cycles and strategic campaigns, ensuring alignment with Helsing's ambitious growth objectives. To excel in this role, you should have a proven track record in the defence industry or government, backed by domain expertise and experience in testing and certification. You are a high-performing, mission-driven problem solver who thrives in fast-paced environments and is eligible for national security clearance. The day-to-day • Develop and execute strategic sales plans to achieve and exceed revenue targets for Helsing's products in the Nordics • Identify, qualify, and pursue new business opportunities by anticipating market trends and client needs, generating a robust sales pipeline • Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key government customers, defense partners, and other critical stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor • Lead the entire sales lifecycle for strategic accounts, including developing compelling value propositions, conducting product demonstrations, preparing proposals, and negotiating contracts to close high-value deals • Collaborate closely with internal product, engineering, and program management teams to ensure proposed solutions meet customer requirements and successful delivery • Represent Helsing at industry events, conferences, and engagements to expand the company's network and enhance visibility • Provide accurate sales forecasts, market intelligence, and reports to senior management, contributing to strategic decision-making • Own strategic sales campaigns, managing all activities and resources required to deliver in line with Helsing's strategic goals for market penetration and growth You should apply if you • Have a proven track record of significant sales or business development experience within the defence industry, government, or related professional services, ideally focused on complex software or AI solutions • Hold deep domain expertise within defence, military, the intelligence community, or other industry experience that demonstrates a strong understanding of procurement processes and operational needs in these sectors. • Have a university degree (or equivalent experience) in any subject relevant to these sectors, including but not limited to Political Science, International Security, Business Administration, Data Science, or Aerospace Engineering • Possess exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical solutions to diverse audiences • Demonstrate strong strategic thinking and a solution-oriented mindset, coupled with the ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities • Are a high performer who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is driven by achieving measurable sales targets • Are collaborative, humble, and a problem-solver, with a commitment to team success • Are ready to meet all necessary measures and requirements that are required to receive a security clearance according to the respective national law Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points. Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields • Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns • The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world • Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward • In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts • We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about What we offer • Competitive salary and stock options (ESOP) • Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation • Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance • Health & wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health) • Social: regularly company events and monthly social allowances • Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers. • Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work These are the core benefits across all locations, there may be additional benefits in certain locations. Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation. Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.