Sales/Bid Manager (all gender)

Overview

À propos de Ascendance Flight Technologies. At Ascendance we are building tomorrow’s hybrid-electric aviation with ATEA, a unique Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft powered by STERNA, our in-house hybrid-electric propulsion system. We focus on designing an innovative, safe, silent, clean and affordable aircraft that will be able to blend into existing infrastructures and regulations to ease its deployment and maximise social acceptance. If you are looking for a place where you will have a direct impact on very ambitious products, where you will work close to the hardware and where you can witness the result of your hard work quickly, board ATEA and come fly with us toward the future of aviation!

Role

Your role : The Aviation Equipment Sales Bid Manager is responsible for securing high-value contracts for our STERNA products - most notably on our Hybrid Pack product - within the hybrid-electric aircraft market. Customers will range from eVTOL manufacturers, General Aviation turboprop aircraft manufacturers, Regional aircraft manufacturers, and Commercial aircraft manufacturers. Based in Toulouse, you will serve as the core commercial link between our engineering capacity and customer needs (OEMs, integrators, and airlines). This role requires applying your technical understanding of hybrid-electric & battery technology and your contract expertise to structure profitable proposals. You report directly to the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and execute a critical function within the company’s growth strategy.

Core responsibilities

• Strategizing and delivering all sales proposals from Qualification to Contract Signature.
• Ensuring technical compliance, commercial viability, and legal accuracy of every bid.
• Managing the bid lifecycle and collaborating actively with the Engineering, Finance, and Production teams.

Main missions

• You develop and nurture customer relationships – You are fully in charge of customer accounts and you handle them from A to Z to detect any commercial opportunity and transform it.
• You are the bid architect – You own the bid qualification process, defining win strategies, competitive positioning, and all offer pricing structures in collaboration with the CCO. You develop detailed bid project plans, managing internal resources, timelines, and budgets to ensure timely submission of fully compliant proposals.
• You craft winning proposals & drive internal alignment – You structure, write, and coordinate all aspects of the commercial and technical proposals, ensuring alignment with the customer’s RFP/RFI and company objectives. You act as the main point of contact for customer clarifications during the bid process, managing Q&A sessions and site visits. You chair internal Gate Reviews to secure executive approval at key decision points, articulating bid risks, mitigation plans, and market potential. You review and negotiate all contract terms and conditions (T&Cs) and legal caveats, acting as the primary liaison with the legal department and CCO during negotiation.
• You secure the deal profitability – You develop cost models and profitability analyses (P&L) for each bid, ensuring proposals are commercially sound and achieve defined margin targets.
• You sign deals – The goal is to close deals that deliver value.

Profile recherché

The job has been made for you if you have:

• A Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Aviation Management, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in B2B sales or bid management within the Aerospace/Aviation or Defence sectors.
• Aerospace Knowledge: Demonstrated understanding of the aerospace procurement cycle, regulatory frameworks (EASA, FAA), and certification processes (DO-160, DO-311, etc.).
• Technical Domain Expertise: Functional knowledge of aerospace equipment, hybrid electric propulsion systems, battery technology (Li-ion, solid-state), or critical avionics equipment.
• Contractual Acumen: Proven experience structuring and negotiating multi-year supply contracts (e.g., long-term agreements, non-recurring engineering costs, warranty terms).
• Language Proficiency: Fluent command of both English (mandatory) and French (preferred).

Behaviour / Soft Skills

• Commercial Leadership: Ability to command cross-functional bid teams and drive consensus under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Negotiation & Influence: Strong negotiation skills with the ability to manage commercial discussions and maintain customer relationships.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Comfortable in a startup environment; proactive, resourceful, and autonomous.
• Communication: Effective written and verbal communication skills across technical and executive audiences.

We are meant to work together if you

• You are willing to contribute to the development of the company.
• You want to impact the future of aviation and lead the transition.
• You want to face complex but thrilling challenges.
• You like to work in a dynamic environment.
• You are a real team player who wants to build a big success story with us.
• You are curious and eager to learn.

What We Offer

• Career booster: versatility, training opportunities, internal mobility
• Health insurance
• Restaurant tickets
• Holiday pay bonus
• Public transportation allowance
• Teleworking policy
• A flexible working environment
• Company events

Recruitment process

• Application evaluations
• Talent Interview
• Technical Interview
• Meet others Ascenders
• Reference check

Non-discrimination and diversity are our priorities. Ascendance is open to hire personalities with their own differences.