VP Partnerships

Auterion•Arlington, VA

About The Position

We’re seeking a Vice President of Partnerships to build, own, and scale our strategic partner ecosystem across the global defense and national security landscape. This role will be responsible for developing and managing strategic alliances, OEM relationships, and joint ventures that accelerate Auterion’s growth and market penetration worldwide. As VP Partnerships, you will define and execute Auterion’s partnership strategy, working closely with government stakeholders, prime contractors, defense OEMs, and technology partners to embed Auterion’s platform into large-scale, long-term defense programs. You will play a critical role in transitioning Auterion from pilot deployments to system-level adoption, shaping programs that define the future of autonomous systems in defense and public safety.

Requirements

Master’s degree (MSc) or equivalent in a relevant technical or business discipline (e.g., engineering, robotics, computer science, or related field).
Extensive experience in the defense and national security sector, with a strong network across defense ecosystems.
Proven track record of building and scaling strategic partnerships, OEM relationships, or joint ventures in complex, regulated markets.
Demonstrated success transitioning technologies from pilot programs to large-scale defense deployments.
Strong understanding of defense procurement, funding mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks.
8+ years of relevant experience, including senior leadership roles in partnerships, business development, or strategy within defense or dual-use technology companies.
Comfortable operating in an international, fast-growing environment with high autonomy and ownership.

Responsibilities

Own and execute Auterion’s global partnerships strategy across JVs, strategic partners and OEMs.
Lead the closing of "marquee" deals with industry titans that expand Auterion market share
Move beyond the "handshake" to ensure long-term health, retention, and scaling of existing accounts.
Structure and lead joint ventures, long-term strategic agreements, and platform partnerships to accelerate adoption at scale.
Drive the integration of Auterion’s technology into OEM platforms, defense systems, and multi-year procurement programs.
Support the development and launch of new autonomous drone programs for national security use cases, including ISR and kinetic operations.
Enable partners to scale from pilots and evaluations into fleet-wide, multi-agency deployments. Create "playbooks" that help partners sell your product as effectively as your internal team does.
Work hand in hand with GTM to translate partnerships into material revenue outcomes, supporting €50M+ program opportunities through ecosystem leverage.
Identify and qualify high-value partnership-led opportunities and guide them through complex regulatory, funding, and procurement pathways.
Work closely with Sales, GTM, and Customer Success to ensure partner-led deployments are successfully operationalized.
Build and lead a small, high-impact partnerships team globally.
Collaborate with Product, Engineering, Legal, and Policy teams to align partnership structures with Auterion’s platform roadmap and compliance requirements.
Represent partnerships at the executive and board level, providing strategic insight into market dynamics and growth opportunities.