Partner Manager, Aerospace and Defense

This role is located in Somerville, MA - We are a hybrid work environment and are in the office 3+ days/per week.

Tulip, the leader in AI-native frontline operations, is helping companies around the world equip their workforce with composable, connected apps, leading to higher quality work, improved efficiency, and end-to-end traceability across operations. Tulip’s cloud-native, no-code platform, powered by embedded AI, is driving the digital transformation of industrial environments through composable, human-centric solutions that go beyond disrupting the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) category.

A spinoff out of MIT, Tulip is headquartered in Somerville, MA, with offices in Germany, Hungary, Singapore, Japan, and Israel. Tulip has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Global Innovator, a 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast award winner, one of Energage’s Top Workplaces USA, and one of Built In Boston’s “Best Places to Work” and “Best Midsize Places to Work.”

About You:

You are a SaaS hunter with a proven track record of exceeding quota and deep expertise in the Aerospace & Defense industry. You understand the unique challenges of A&D manufacturing—from stringent compliance requirements to complex supply chain dynamics—and can speak credibly with defense primes, Tier 1 suppliers, and MRO organizations alike.

You're entrepreneurial, comfortable building the playbook while executing it, and thrive in mission-critical environments where precision, traceability, and security are paramount. You can present to C-suite executives at major defense contractors as effectively as you can collaborate with solutions architects on technical integrations.

What skills do I need?

• 5-8+ years in Channel Sales, Partnerships/Alliances, or Business Development with a strong focus on Aerospace & Defense customers and partners
• Proven track record of quota attainment (100%+) in a channel or alliances sales capacity
• Deep understanding of A&D industry dynamics, including defense primes, Tier 1/2 suppliers, commercial aerospace OEMs, and MRO operations
• Familiarity with A&D compliance frameworks such as ITAR, DFARS, CMMC, AS9100, and NADCAP; understanding of FedRAMP and government cloud requirements preferred
• Experience with MES, ERP, PLM, or IIoT ecosystems in aerospace and defense manufacturing environments
• Experience in SaaS and/or digital transformation initiatives within regulated industries
• Existing relationships with A&D-focused system integrators, consultancies, and technology partners strongly preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to manage multiple stakeholders across complex organizational structures
• Familiarity with Salesforce.com and sales tools (Outreach, ZoomInfo, LinkedIn Sales Navigator)
• U.S. Citizenship required due to nature of work with defense customers; ability to obtain security clearance a plus
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field strongly preferred

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the entire indirect sales process through Tulip's A&D ecosystem partners, including defense-focused system integrators, VAR partners, and strategic alliances
• Develop and execute comprehensive Go-to-Market plans with key partners targeting aerospace manufacturing, defense production, and MRO verticals—including joint value propositions aligned with A&D priorities (traceability, compliance, workforce enablement, quality)
• Support account executives and partners during co-selling motions with defense primes, commercial aerospace OEMs, and their supply chains—from prospecting to close, including accurate pipeline forecasting
• Enable partners to independently represent Tulip across the commercial cycle, ensuring they understand A&D-specific requirements (compliance, security, data sovereignty)
• Identify and recruit new partners to fill geographic, technical, or vertical gaps in the A&D ecosystem—including specialized defense consultancies and cleared technology providers
• Stay current on A&D industry trends, digital transformation initiatives (e.g., DoD modernization programs, Factory of the Future), and competitive landscape
• Leverage and collaborate with internal resources including Sales, Marketing, Sales Engineering, Product, Legal, and Customer teams to navigate complex A&D procurement cycles

Key Collaborators:

• Commercial team including Sales, Marketing, Pre-Sales, and Delivery
• Product and Engineering teams

Working At Tulip

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