Business Development and Sales Lead
Shield AI is a U.S. defense-technology company developing AI-powered autonomy software and autonomous aircraft for military and allied operations.
Funding history
Investors
About Shield AI
Shield AI builds Hivemind, an end-to-end AI-pilot and mission-autonomy software platform for resilient operations in GPS- and communications-denied environments, alongside aircraft and simulation products including V-BAT, X-BAT, and Aechelon.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will own the sales lifecycle for V-BAT ISR opportunities in the UK, from pipeline generation through closing. You will identify urgent acquisition opportunities, develop territory and capture strategies, cultivate defence customer relationships, shape requirements, lead proposals, manage forecasts and CRM data, and represent the portfolio at customer and industry events.
Requirements
- Operational background in UK special operations, special mission, or high-readiness environments
- Familiarity with ISR capability identification, trials, acquisition, and sustainment in time-sensitive procurement environments
- Experience in capability development or acquisition
- Commercial defence sales experience with special operations or Ministry of Defence customers
- Understanding of UK defence acquisition processes
- Experience developing capture strategies for complex opportunities
- Technical aptitude in UAS ISR, integration, and autonomous systems
- Communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
- Active SC clearance; DV clearance or eligibility is preferred
Responsibilities
- Own the sales lifecycle from pipeline generation through close
- Identify, qualify, and advance urgent operational requirement opportunities
- Develop territory and capture strategies
- Build relationships with defence decision-makers, sponsors, programme offices, and influencers
- Shape customer requirements before formalization
- Identify mission-autonomy opportunities
- Lead proposal development
- Conduct competitive analysis and position capabilities
- Translate customer needs into technical solutions
- Manage deal qualification, strategy, forecasting, and CRM hygiene
- Represent the portfolio at industry events, exercises, and customer engagements
- Communicate pipeline status, risks, and milestones to stakeholders