Strategic Customer Success Manager (Aerospace & Defense) at Colab Software in Chicago, IL | Kablio

Role

Description

change management

workflow optimization

risk management

executive engagement

business reviews

data strategy

Coach customer champions to build internal advocacy and communicate success stories that drive organizational buy-in and expansion
Define and execute a customer success strategy aligned with long-cycle aerospace programs, engineering milestones, and CoLab's broader expansion motion
Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Product, and Solutions Engineering to deliver adoption outcomes, manage risk, and uncover new growth opportunities
Lead customers through change management and workflow optimization, helping them embed CoLab into critical engineering and manufacturing processes
Act as a cross-functional leader, modeling accountability, ownership, and clarity in a fast-paced, scaling environment
Identify risk signals early, define mitigation plans, and escalate with urgency when required
Lead strategic conversations with confidence and clarity
Operate with urgency and proactively mitigate risk
Contribute to the evolution of CoLab's Customer Success playbooks and frameworks, raising the standard for strategic execution and operational excellence across the team
Take ownership of customer outcomes and internal clarity
Lead executive engagement, stakeholder mapping, and success planning to drive measurable business outcomes
Conduct executive-level business reviews that connect CoLab adoption to quantifiable impact such as reduced engineering change cycles, improved program velocity, or supplier collaboration efficiency
Translate customer insights, usage data, and feedback into actionable strategies that accelerate time-to-value and showcase ROI

Requirements

7+ years

customer success

vertical saas

export compliance

cad/plm

executive presence

Familiarity with land-and-expand SaaS motions
Thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment where processes are still being shaped
7+ years in Customer Success, Strategic Consulting, or Enterprise Account Management, preferably with exposure to aerospace, defense, or complex engineering/manufacturing environments
Familiarity with navigating complex procurement, security, and compliance processes in enterprise accounts
Track record of partnering with Sales to shape and execute multi-threaded expansion strategies in large, complex organizations
Strong executive presence and communication skills
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
Experience with customer journey orchestration and success planning in a high-ACV SaaS environment
Own gross revenue retention (GRR) across your portfolio, with strong influence over net revenue retention (NRR) and strategic expansion within global A&D accounts
All applicants must be eligible for the necessary authorizations to access information or technology governed by export control and defense compliance programs (ex: ITAR, EAR, or Canada's Controlled Goods Program)
Comfortable operating in fast-paced, high-growth environments
Excel at translating product functionality into customer value in a technical domain
Background in vertical SaaS (especially A&D, shipbuilding, heavy industrial sectors)
Comfortable navigating compliance, procurement, and security requirements common in A&D (ex: ITAR, export control, multi-site governance)
Highly organized, data-driven, and accountable
Proven track record driving enterprise transformation and measurable outcomes for global manufacturing or defense-industry customers
Excel at cross-functional collaboration, even in ambiguous territory
Experience supporting engineering or manufacturing customers (CAD, PLM, or technical tools)

Benefits

Information not given or found

Training + Development

Information not given or found

Interview process

Information not given or found

Visa Sponsorship

Information not given or found

Security clearance

Information not given or found

Company

Overview

Born in 2017

Founded in 2017

Engineered by frustrated engineers from Tesla and Hyperloop projects.

$38M

Raised Over $38 Million

Secured $17M Series A in 2021 and $21M Series B in 2024.

$6.9M

Revenue in 2024

Surged nearly 10x year-over-year revenue growth.

30+ CAD Types

Supported CAD Files

Integrates with over 30 file types and leading PLM systems.

Trusted by Fortune 500 manufacturers like Ford, Johnson Controls, Schaeffler, Hyundai Mobis, and Komatsu.
Hosted its first user conference, the Design Engagement Summit, in August 2024 to unveil product roadmap and community success stories.
Features generative AI checklists and similarity engine that surface past lessons and automate routine review tasks.

Culture + Values

Kindness and Respect Come First: We treat one another with respect. We are kind to ourselves and others even when times are tough. We seek to understand, and are transparent when we need help. We have hard conversations and openly provide constructive feedback.
Ownership mentality: We take responsibility for outcomes and not just outputs: “It’s up to me to close the loop, not just check the box.” We don’t give up the first time we hit a roadblock. We set clear goals and we stay focused on them until we succeed. We take initiative, both within and outside our direct area of responsibility. We operate with a healthy dose of paranoia: never panicked, but always trying to see around corners and anticipate challenges before they derail a product launch, customer onboarding, or sales opportunity.
Better Everyday: We’re hungry, eager to solve tough problems, succeed in challenging roles, and work with people that push us to be our best. We make the best decisions we can, knowing no decision is still a decision and forward motion is better. We know that every step forward, big or small, builds momentum. We strive for excellence in everything we do — we never settle. We measure our progress — what’s visible can be improved.
One Team, One Mission: We always act in the best interest of our customers and CoLab. We are the teammate we want to work with — we get what we give. We are disciplined. We don’t get distracted by shiny objects.

Environment + Sustainability

No information on environmental or sustainability strategy, net‑zero target, or carbon emissions is available on the official website or LinkedIn.

Inclusion & Diversity

2025 Recognition

Inclusive Workplace Program Participation

Recognized by Best Companies Group + COLOR Magazine for exceeding benchmarks in inclusion, belonging, psychological safety, community, and purpose.

Comprehensive data‑driven surveys and analysis conducted during program participation to evaluate how COLAB fosters inclusivity and values its team members.
CEO states that recognition reflects a commitment to creating a workplace where every team member feels valued, heard, and empowered to show up as their authentic selves every day.
No gender‑specific statistics or other DEI numerical data found on public pages.

Articles

Security as a Solution

Help Center

State of Supplier Collaboration report

Role

Description

change management

workflow optimization

risk management

executive engagement

business reviews

data strategy

Coach customer champions to build internal advocacy and communicate success stories that drive organizational buy-in and expansion
Define and execute a customer success strategy aligned with long-cycle aerospace programs, engineering milestones, and CoLab's broader expansion motion
Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Product, and Solutions Engineering to deliver adoption outcomes, manage risk, and uncover new growth opportunities
Lead customers through change management and workflow optimization, helping them embed CoLab into critical engineering and manufacturing processes
Act as a cross-functional leader, modeling accountability, ownership, and clarity in a fast-paced, scaling environment
Identify risk signals early, define mitigation plans, and escalate with urgency when required
Lead strategic conversations with confidence and clarity
Operate with urgency and proactively mitigate risk
Contribute to the evolution of CoLab's Customer Success playbooks and frameworks, raising the standard for strategic execution and operational excellence across the team
Take ownership of customer outcomes and internal clarity
Lead executive engagement, stakeholder mapping, and success planning to drive measurable business outcomes
Conduct executive-level business reviews that connect CoLab adoption to quantifiable impact such as reduced engineering change cycles, improved program velocity, or supplier collaboration efficiency
Translate customer insights, usage data, and feedback into actionable strategies that accelerate time-to-value and showcase ROI

Requirements

7+ years

customer success

vertical saas

export compliance

cad/plm

executive presence

Familiarity with land-and-expand SaaS motions
Thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment where processes are still being shaped
7+ years in Customer Success, Strategic Consulting, or Enterprise Account Management, preferably with exposure to aerospace, defense, or complex engineering/manufacturing environments
Familiarity with navigating complex procurement, security, and compliance processes in enterprise accounts
Track record of partnering with Sales to shape and execute multi-threaded expansion strategies in large, complex organizations
Strong executive presence and communication skills
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
Experience with customer journey orchestration and success planning in a high-ACV SaaS environment
Own gross revenue retention (GRR) across your portfolio, with strong influence over net revenue retention (NRR) and strategic expansion within global A&D accounts
All applicants must be eligible for the necessary authorizations to access information or technology governed by export control and defense compliance programs (ex: ITAR, EAR, or Canada's Controlled Goods Program)
Comfortable operating in fast-paced, high-growth environments
Excel at translating product functionality into customer value in a technical domain
Background in vertical SaaS (especially A&D, shipbuilding, heavy industrial sectors)
Comfortable navigating compliance, procurement, and security requirements common in A&D (ex: ITAR, export control, multi-site governance)
Highly organized, data-driven, and accountable
Proven track record driving enterprise transformation and measurable outcomes for global manufacturing or defense-industry customers
Excel at cross-functional collaboration, even in ambiguous territory
Experience supporting engineering or manufacturing customers (CAD, PLM, or technical tools)

Benefits

Information not given or found

Training + Development

Information not given or found

Interview process

Information not given or found

Visa Sponsorship

Information not given or found

Security clearance

Information not given or found

Company

Overview

Born in 2017

Founded in 2017

Engineered by frustrated engineers from Tesla and Hyperloop projects.

$38M

Raised Over $38 Million

Secured $17M Series A in 2021 and $21M Series B in 2024.

$6.9M

Revenue in 2024

Surged nearly 10x year-over-year revenue growth.

30+ CAD Types

Supported CAD Files

Integrates with over 30 file types and leading PLM systems.

Trusted by Fortune 500 manufacturers like Ford, Johnson Controls, Schaeffler, Hyundai Mobis, and Komatsu.
Hosted its first user conference, the Design Engagement Summit, in August 2024 to unveil product roadmap and community success stories.
Features generative AI checklists and similarity engine that surface past lessons and automate routine review tasks.

Culture + Values

Kindness and Respect Come First: We treat one another with respect. We are kind to ourselves and others even when times are tough. We seek to understand, and are transparent when we need help. We have hard conversations and openly provide constructive feedback.
Ownership mentality: We take responsibility for outcomes and not just outputs: “It’s up to me to close the loop, not just check the box.” We don’t give up the first time we hit a roadblock. We set clear goals and we stay focused on them until we succeed. We take initiative, both within and outside our direct area of responsibility. We operate with a healthy dose of paranoia: never panicked, but always trying to see around corners and anticipate challenges before they derail a product launch, customer onboarding, or sales opportunity.
Better Everyday: We’re hungry, eager to solve tough problems, succeed in challenging roles, and work with people that push us to be our best. We make the best decisions we can, knowing no decision is still a decision and forward motion is better. We know that every step forward, big or small, builds momentum. We strive for excellence in everything we do — we never settle. We measure our progress — what’s visible can be improved.
One Team, One Mission: We always act in the best interest of our customers and CoLab. We are the teammate we want to work with — we get what we give. We are disciplined. We don’t get distracted by shiny objects.

Environment + Sustainability

No information on environmental or sustainability strategy, net‑zero target, or carbon emissions is available on the official website or LinkedIn.

Inclusion & Diversity

2025 Recognition

Inclusive Workplace Program Participation

Recognized by Best Companies Group + COLOR Magazine for exceeding benchmarks in inclusion, belonging, psychological safety, community, and purpose.

Comprehensive data‑driven surveys and analysis conducted during program participation to evaluate how COLAB fosters inclusivity and values its team members.
CEO states that recognition reflects a commitment to creating a workplace where every team member feels valued, heard, and empowered to show up as their authentic selves every day.
No gender‑specific statistics or other DEI numerical data found on public pages.

Articles

Security as a Solution

Help Center

State of Supplier Collaboration report