Internship - Public Affairs & Partnership
About Alta Ares
Alta Ares is a deeptech startup founded in 2024, building real-time AI for defense operations (ISR, C-UAS). Our primary clients are NATO-aligned militaries, with regular deployments during live exercises. Raised €2M pre-seed in May 2025
Products include:
- Real-time AI ISR module deployable on drones and tactical platforms
- Counter-UAS solution enabling autonomous drone takeover under GNSS-denied environment
- Full-stack MLOps platform for training & deploying military-grade AI models
- Data fusion and trajectory prediction
Position details
Location: Paris, France – Hybrid
Reports to: Reporting to the Head of Sales, and working closely with the executive team (CEO, COO, Chief of Staff).
Internship objective: Support Alta Ares by helping build relationships with defense institutions, maintaining strategic intelligence on military AI issues, and supporting the Sales team on the Public Defense market.
Contract: Internship
Role & Mission
Military Relations & Institutional Engagement:
- Build and maintain relationships with operational units within French Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy)
- Support the executive team in engaging with DGA, defense staff, and military decision-makers
- Map key stakeholders in counter-UAS programs, ISR units, and military AI initiatives
- Support for preparation of briefing materials for key meetings, and technical demonstrations
Defense Procurement:
- Monitor and identify relevant military tenders and calls for proposals (DGA, European Defense Fund, NATO)
- Preparation and submission of responses to identified tenders
- Track defense innovation programs and coordinate application processes
Defense Intelligence & Strategic Analysis:
- Track doctrinal evolutions in autonomous systems and C-UAS operations
- Produce executive summaries on military requirements, threat assessments, and operational trends
Defense Ecosystem & Coordination:
- Engage with defense industrial base: prime contractors, GICAT, military R&D centers
Candidate Profile
Education: Student in Master's degree with orientation in Defense & Security, International Relations/Security, Public Affairs.
Required Skills & Qualities
- Defense background: deep understanding of French Armed Forces organization, military doctrine, and defense procurement processes
- Military technology: genuine interest and knowledge in military AI, drones, ISR systems, and counter-UAS operations
- Procurement experience: familiarity with defense tenders, public procurement procedures, and funding mechanisms
- Excellent writing skills: ability to produce military-grade documentation, technical responses, and operational briefings for C-Level
- Military environment : comfortable engaging with military personnel, defense officials, and operational units
- Autonomy and initiative
- Fluent English (written and spoken)
- Security clearance eligibility : French nationality is a must have
- Discretion and operational security
Nice to have
- Prior Defense experience (service, reserves, defense internships)
- Existing relationships within French Armed Forces or DGA
- Experience with defense procurement responses or military project management
- Technical understanding of AI, computer vision, or robotics
- Knowledge of Ukrainian (language, culture)
Skills & Values
European & Technological sovereignty
Rigor & Audacity
Pragmatic, Field-Oriented Innovation
Resilience in Extreme Conditions
What we offer
Work on operational military AI technologies, gain defense procurement expertise, and build relationships with Armed Forces and defense institutions.
Direct exposure to executive team and real responsibilities from day one.
Potential for full-time position.
A highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment with AI, defense, and robotics experts.
A hybrid and flexible working setup in the heart of Paris.