Safran

AI Defense Director

Safran  •  Montréal, CA (Onsite)  •  8 days ago
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Job Description

Safran.AI – AI That Operates in the Real World

A subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense, Safran.AI develops AI solutions applied to complex data such as high-resolution satellite imagery, FMV (Full Motion Video) streams, and acoustic signals. These solutions rely on algorithms capable of automatically detecting and identifying objects of interest in the defense, aerospace, and government sectors.

Since joining Safran in September 2024, Safran.AI has also contributed to the group's transformation by applying AI solutions to Industry 4.0 initiatives. For example, AI-powered image analysis can assist inspectors responsible for examining critical components by helping them detect potential anomalies from digital images.

With a workforce of 250 employees, you will work within passionate, multidisciplinary teams that bring together some of the industry's most recognized talents, all driven by a shared commitment to excellence and technological innovation.

In the context of Safran.AI’s international expansion, we are looking to base a Director AI for Defense Canada in Canada.

What’s at Stake in This Role

As Director AI for Defense Canada, you will be responsible for establishing and leading Safran.AI’s practice within the Canadian Defense & Intelligence market. This is a senior leadership role combining strategic vision, hands-on business development and, in the longer term, team building. Initially, you will define the go-to-market strategy for Safran.AI in Canada and cultivate lasting relationships with key stakeholders across government, industry, and academia, and then, if the business grows, build a local team capable of adapting Safran.AI's products to Canada’s specific operational and regulatory requirements. The role will be locally anchored within SED Defense and Space in Canada, whose teams, infrastructure, and customer relationships you will closely collaborate with and actively mobilize in support of Safran.AI’s mission. This role demands an entrepreneurial mindset, some autonomy, a deep understanding of the Canadian defense ecosystem, and the ability to operate effectively within a large, matrixed multinational organization.
Canadian Defense & Intelligence market strategy:
  • Define and execute Safran.AI’s strategy for the Canadian Defense & Intelligence market, identifying priority domains, capability gaps, and competitive positioning.
  • Analyze Canadian procurement cycles, regulatory frameworks, and defense investment priorities to inform Safran.AI’s market approach and product roadmap adaptation.
Stakeholder engagement & relationship management:
  • Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior decision-makers across the Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence, CSIS, and other relevant government agencies.
  • Represent Safran.AI at key industry events, defense exhibitions, and government forums in Canada and abroad as needed (e.g., CANSEC, Ottawa Conference on Defence, etc.) to build brand awareness and establish thought leadership.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for Canadian clients and partners, ensuring seamless coordination between local needs and Safran.AI’s global engineering and product teams.
Business development & revenue growth:
  • Identify, qualify, and pursue opportunities across Canadian defense programs, including sole-source and competitive procurements, and coordinate proposal efforts with internal teams.
  • Lead contract negotiations with government clients and prime contractors, ensuring agreements reflect Safran.AI’s strategic interests and long-term market positioning in Canada.
  • Drive revenue targets and track pipeline health, providing regular updates and strategic guidance to Safran.AI leadership, as well as Safran Defense & Space Canada and Safran group stakeholders (it should be noted that,
    initially, given the absence of a broader Safran.AI team in Canada, the ability to collaborate effectively with the rest of the group's local teams will be critical, including mobilizing local resources where appropriate).
Industrial & academic partnerships:
  • Develop and manage a network of strategic partnerships with Canadian defense primes, system integrators, AI champions, SMEs, and universities to strengthen Safran’s local industrial footprint and innovation pipeline.
  • Negotiate and structure teaming agreements and consortium arrangements that position Safran.AI as a credible, value-adding partner in major Canadian defense programs.
  • Engage with leading Canadian defense research institutions (e.g., DRDC, universities with defense AI programs) to co-develop cutting-edge capabilities and position Safran.AI at the forefront of Canadian defense AI innovation.
Business planning & strategic reporting:
  • Develop a comprehensive Safran.AI Canada capture and business plan (covering market positioning, go-to-market strategy, financial targets, headcount roadmap, and investment requirements) and drive its approval with Safran.AI, Safran Defense & Space Canada, and Safran group leadership, and take full ownership of its execution.
  • Provide executive-level reporting to Safran.AI, Safran Defense & Space Canada and Safran group on strategic progress, pipeline status, risks, and opportunities.
Industry leadership & Safran.AI advocacy:
  • Serve as Safran AI’s senior representative in Canada, actively engaging with government bodies, defense associations (e.g., CADSI), and policy forums to shape the national defense AI agenda.
  • Champion Safran AI’s capabilities through speaking engagements, white papers, and participation in defense AI working groups, reinforcing Safran.AI’s position as a trusted technology partner for Canada’s defense and
    intelligence missions.
Team building & local capability development:
While this will certainly not be expected at the outset, the candidate should ultimately be capable of assuming this role, as it is consistent with Safran.AI’s vision for its Canadian operations once the business has reached sufficient scale (subject to the approval of an expansion plan by Safran.AI’s top management, to be prepared in close coordination with the relevant Safran.AI teams, in particular the Finance team):
  • Recruit and develop a high-performing local team of engineers, data scientists, developers, program managers, and business development professionals as needed to support Canada-specific requirements and Safran.AI’s growth in Canada.
  • Lead the localization and customization of Safran.AI products to meet the operational, linguistic, and security requirements of the Canadian Armed Forces and intelligence community.
  • Foster a culture of innovation and ownership within the team, ensuring alignment with both Safran.AI’s global vision and local market realities.
  • Work in close coordination with SED Defense and Space Canada’s teams, ensuring strong day-to-day collaboration and actively mobilizing their expertise, customer relationships, and operational resources to accelerate Safran.AI’s development in Canada.
Your profile
Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Defense Studies, or a related technical or strategic field.
  • Advanced degree (MBA, Master’s in Defense Management, or equivalent) is a strong asset.
  • Canadian Forces Staff College or equivalent senior military education is highly valued.
Experience:
  • 15+ years of combined experience in the Canadian Armed Forces and/or intelligence community, followed by a successful transition into the Canadian defense industry, with demonstrated impact in both environments.
    Proven track record of building and scaling teams, winning complex defense contracts, and driving growth within a large industrial or technology company, with the agility of an entrepreneur.
  • Established network across DND, CAF, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and key Canadian defense primes; familiarity with Canadian security clearance frameworks is essential.
Skills and competencies:
  • Deep understanding of AI/ML technologies and their application to defense and intelligence missions (GEOINT, ISR, C2, autonomous systems, etc.).
  • Exceptional leadership and people skills - able to inspire and develop high-performing teams while managing stakeholders across military, government, industry, and corporate environments.
  • Strong business acumen with experience building business plans and navigating complex procurement processes in the Canadian defense sector.
  • Entrepreneurial mindset: comfortable building from scratch, operating with ambiguity, and making high-impact decisions, while navigating the structures and processes of a large, global organization.
  • Bilingual (English/French) is a significant asset given Canada’s official language requirements; active Canadian security clearance (Secret or above) is required or must be obtainable.
  • Track record of influencing at the executive level (whether as a senior military officer, industry VP, or both) with a reputation for integrity, vision, and delivery.
  • Team-spirit. Agility and the ability to bootstrap when necessary

Working Conditions

  • Regarding the type of contract, there are two possible scenarios:
    • Scenario 1: Hiring a candidate based in France who will be relocating to the site. In this case, a defense clearance will be required.
    • Scenario 2: A local hiring with a local contract.
  • Depending on the scenario selected, the benefits and compensation package may vary. These will be presented and detailed during the initial discussion with the Talent Acquisition teams.
  • Based in Canada, this position requires a high degree of availability for frequent travel (customer and partner meetings, conferences, workshops), representing approximately 50% of working time.
  • Remote working from another city in Canada is possible.
Safran

About Safran

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and holds, alone or in partnership, world or European leadership positions in its core markets.

Industry
Aviation & Aerospace
Company Size
10,000+ employees
Headquarters
Paris, FR
Year Founded
2005
Website
safran-group.com
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