Sales Manager

Elite Engineering And Manufacturing LLC • Santa Clara, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Elite Engineering & Manufacturing is a precision manufacturing company seeking to expand into the aerospace and defense sector. With AS9100 certification and ITAR compliance, the company is looking for a Director of Aerospace and Defense Sales to build this new vertical from the ground up. This is a "build role" focused on identifying opportunities, securing program wins, and establishing long-term customer partnerships. The ideal candidate is a "Commercial Hunter" and "Persuader" who thrives on high-stakes influence, leverages deep relationships, and can navigate long sales cycles and rigorous qualification processes. The role involves converting technical capabilities into awarded programs and growing them into repeat production. The primary focus is Southern California, and candidates embedded in that ecosystem are strongly preferred.

Requirements

• 5+ years of outside sales experience in aerospace/defense manufacturing
• Strong understanding of CNC machining and/or sheet metal fabrication in an AS9100 environment
• Existing access to decision-makers within potential aerospace/defense customers is required
• Comfortable discussing prints, tolerances, materials, processes, and lead times with engineering and supply chain teams
• Self-directed, commercially sharp, and motivated by closing real production work
• High "Task" and High "Relationship" orientation. You must be able to open doors through charisma and close deals through rigorous commercial discipline
• Willing to travel locally and regionally to support customers and programs

Nice To Haves

• This role is best suited for a builder — someone who enjoys turning technical conversations into awarded programs and long-term customer partnerships.
• We are looking for a producer who measures success in closed orders, repeat work, and program wins, not just meetings booked.
• This position is suited for someone seeking a well-capitalized business, upper-market compensation, and a role with real authority and impact.
• As aerospace/defense revenue scales, this role is expected to evolve into a broader leadership role at the company.

Responsibilities

• Own business development efforts across aerospace/defense on the West Coast
• Build and expand trusted relationships with OEMs, Tier 1s, and Tier 2 suppliers
• Identify high-value opportunities and convert them from initial conversation through RFQ, award, and repeat production
• Act as the commercial face of Elite with customers — on-site visits, technical discussions, and program follow-through
• Partner closely with engineering, estimating, and operations to align customer needs with manufacturing execution
• Recruit, mentor, and scale a high-performing aerospace and defense sales team as the vertical expands
• Build and manage a disciplined opportunity pipeline with clear visibility into timing, value, and probability

Benefits

• Material performance-based incentives tied directly to revenue and project awards
• Total earnings will scale directly with revenue generated and margin delivered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees