AI Deployment Strategist, Defense - Paris

ABOUT MISTRAL

Mistral provides full-stack AI solutions: from frontier models to developer tools, applications, and compute. We partner with enterprises tackling the hardest problems across high-stakes industries like finance, manufacturing, defense, healthcare, and the public sector, co-creating customized AI systems that they can run on their terms.

We are a dynamic, collaborative team passionate about AI and its potential to transform society. Our diverse workforce thrives in competitive environments and is committed to driving innovation. Our teams are distributed between Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. We are creative, low-ego and team-spirited.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Applied AI for Defense team is Mistral's specialized unit dedicated to delivering high-impact, secure AI solutions for institutions operating in highly regulated and strategic environments. We work hand-in-hand with clients to design, deploy, and maintain AI systems that meet the highest standards of reliability, security, and operational excellence, including on-premise, disconnected, and air-gapped deployments.

As an AI Deployment Strategist on this team, you will drive the adoption and deployment of Mistral's AI solutions inside sovereign institutions and critical infrastructure, working closely with customers from strategic vision to production implementation. This role sits at the intersection of business strategy, AI innovation, and hands-on deployment, under real operational, security, and compliance constraints. You will partner with senior leaders and mission owners to design AI roadmaps, collaborate with the Applied AI team to deliver solutions in production, and ensure seamless transitions from presales to postsales. Your work will directly contribute to projects with significant societal, operational, and strategic impact.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Strategic Discovery & Vision Setting

- Lead executive-level and mission-owner workshops to identify challenges and opportunities where Mistral's AI can drive step-change improvements in strategic environments.

- Co-create AI adoption roadmaps with customers, articulating the "art of the possible" and a clear path to value within their regulatory and security perimeter.

- Collaborate with Account Executives to develop business cases, quantify impact, and align solutions with mission and organizational objectives.

AI Solution Design & Deployment

- Architect end-to-end AI solutions, integrating Mistral's models and platform into customer workflows and secure technical infrastructure (cloud, on-premise, disconnected, air-gapped).

- Partner with the Applied AI team to design, prototype, and deploy AI solutions in production, ensuring scalability, security, and impact.

- Own the execution of pilots and proofs-of-value, demonstrating the potential of our technology and paving the way for full-scale deployment.

Value Realization & Customer Success

- Serve as a trusted advisor to customers, guiding their AI strategy and ensuring they maximize the value of their investment in Mistral.

- Monitor key performance indicators tied to operational and business outcomes, and communicate progress to executive sponsors.

- Proactively identify expansion opportunities across use cases and units, building on initial successes to drive long-term partnerships.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Act as the bridge between customers and Mistral's internal teams, synthesizing feedback to influence product, science, and security roadmaps.

- Develop reusable assets, best practices, and playbooks to scale go-to-market efforts and ensure consistent delivery excellence in regulated settings.

- Travel (~30-60%) to foster deep client relationships and support on-site deployment.

HOW WE WORK IN SOLUTIONS

- We care about people and outputs. What matters is what you ship, not the time you spend on it.

- Bureaucracy is where urgency goes to vanish. You talk to whoever you need to talk to. The best idea wins, whether it comes from a principal engineer or someone in their first week.

- Always ask why. The best solutions come from deep understanding, not from copying what worked before.

- We say what we mean. Feedback is direct, timely, and given because we care.

- No politics. Low ego, high standards.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

- 2+ years in a client-facing strategic and technical role (e.g. data science consulting, value engineering, or technical sales).

- A degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g. Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering).

- Foundational knowledge of AI/ML/Data Science, with the credibility to advise both technical and non-technical audiences.

- Hands-on experience building and deploying AI applications (Python, JavaScript, or similar) to demonstrate value.

- Strong business acumen and problem-solving skills, with the ability to structure ambiguous challenges into actionable solutions.

- Executive presence and communication skills to influence senior stakeholders (VP, C-level, mission owners).

- Resilient, results-driven, and comfortable leading through influence in a collaborative environment.

- Comfort operating under security, compliance, and confidentiality constraints.

- Experience with sales qualification frameworks (e.g. MEDDPICC) and value-based selling is a plus.

- Experience deploying AI in regulated or sovereign environments (defense, public sector, critical infrastructure) is a plus.

SECURITY & COMPLIANCE CRITERIA

- Eligibility: must hold citizenship in the target territory (France for now).

- Clearable: must meet all local requirements for high-level security clearance (e.g. no criminal record, fulfillment of national service obligations).

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Benefits vary by country and may include healthcare coverage, parental leave, retirement plans, relocation support, wellness programs, meal and transportation allowances, and other location-specific perks.

For the most up-to-date details on benefits available in your location, please refer to our Benefits page https://app.notion.com/p/mistralai/Benefits-at-Mistral-36e6ba59a7fe836b93dd01737fcc27ef?source=copy_link.

PRIVACY POLICY

Your privacy matters to us. You can learn more about how we handle your personal data in our Applicant Privacy Policy https://legal.mistral.ai/terms/applicant-privacy-policy.