Open role
Account Executive, Aerospace & Defence
Aerospace & Defence
US (with travel to customers and events)
Reports to: Chief Revenue Officer
About Cora Systems
Cora Systems builds antaivo, the platform for autonomous portfolio intelligence. Headquartered in Ireland and selling across EMEA and the US, Cora has delivered enterprise portfolio management since 1999.
Our customers run programmes where a slipped milestone costs millions: defence platforms, new manufacturing lines, multi-year pharmaceutical capital projects. Instead of assembling the truth on a monthly reporting cycle, antaivo runs on the portfolio’s clock. It watches schedule, cost, risk and resource together, surfaces what changed and why, and proposes the corrective action for a person to approve. Executives, PMOs and finance get one trusted view of the whole portfolio, kept current as things change.
Why people join Cora
- Real influence. You shape your territory, your partner plays and how we go to market in your vertical.
- Exceptional customer base. You sell to programme directors, CFOs, CIOs and Heads of PMO at global enterprises.
- Upside that tracks performance. Uncapped commission and a clear line between the value you create and what you earn.
The role
You will own new business and expansion with aerospace and defence primes, sub-tier suppliers and government contractors. Your buyers run programmes under intense scrutiny: earned value, contract compliance, audit readiness and on-time delivery to the customer. Cora gives them one integrated view of cost, schedule, risk and performance across the programme portfolio.
This is a full-cycle role. You will build your own pipeline, map programme and contract structures, bring the right partners into each pursuit, and close complex enterprise deals. You will work alongside our A&D Solution Advisor, and you will own the deal.
What you will do
Build and close a pipeline of new A&D and GovCon customers, from primes to mid-tier suppliers.
Sell into programme management, project controls, finance, contracts and IT leadership.
Lead credible conversations on EVMS, IPMDAR, DCMA surveillance, DFARS compliance and, in the UK, JSP 507 and SSRO reporting.
Work with and through partners (systems integrators, EVM consultancies, ERP partners and teaming partners) to source and win opportunities.
Navigate long, structured procurement cycles, security requirements and data-sovereignty questions with confidence.
Expand existing customers into new programmes, sites and AI capabilities, including our GovCon specialist agents.
Forecast accurately and keep a disciplined, current CRM.
Bring field insight back to product, marketing and partner strategy.
What you bring
A track record of closing six- and seven-figure enterprise software deals into aerospace, defence or government contracting.
Fluency in programme controls and the A&D compliance landscape. You know what a DCMA review means to a project controls lead.
Proven experience selling through and with partners, including SIs, EVM specialists and ERP ecosystems.
Success in a company of similar size, where you created your own pipeline and your own wins.
An existing network across primes, tier-one and tier-two suppliers is a strong plus.
Eligibility to work with defence customers in your region; security clearance, or eligibility for it, is an advantage.
Alternative paths we welcome
- From industryYou have worked in programme management, project controls, EVM or finance at a defence prime or supplier, and you want to move into a commercial role.
- From the PMOYou have run a programme office or project controls function in A&D and want to change direction. You understand the problem we solve from the inside.
Who you are
We are looking for builders, not passengers. At Cora you take part in creating your own success: you find the opportunity, shape the solution, bring in the partner and close the deal.
- Ambitious.
You want to build a territory and a reputation, and you measure yourself by results.
- Shows initiative.
You don't wait for leads, a playbook or permission. You see a gap and act on it.
- Self-motivated.
You set your own pace and hold yourself to a high standard without being managed to it.
- Partner-minded.
You know that the best enterprise deals are often won with others. You build real relationships with SIs, consultancies and technology partners, and you make them want to bring you in.
- Deep in your domain.
You speak your customer's language, and buyers treat you as a peer who understands their programmes, not just as a vendor.
- Solution-focused.
You start with the customer's problem and build a commercial case around it, not around a feature list.
- Proven at our scale.
You have succeeded in a company of similar size, where resources are focused and every person's contribution counts.
Is this the right move for you?
This role suits someone who has carved their own path. If you have spent your career at a multi-billion-dollar vendor with presales, bid teams, deal desks and partner managers around every opportunity, be honest with yourself about whether you want to work differently. Here you will have strong support, but you will be the one making the deal happen. For the right person, that is the attraction: more ownership, more visibility and a direct link between your effort and your outcome.
We strongly encourage applications from people moving into sales from industry, and from PMO and project controls leaders looking for a career change. Domain credibility is hard to teach. If you have it, and the drive to build a commercial career, we want to talk to you.
Equal opportunity
Cora Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of every background and are committed to an inclusive workplace.
How to apply
If you are interested in this role, you can apply on LinkedIn or send your resume to mdurcan@corasystems.com.