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Shield AI
London
Source: Shield AI careers · View original posting
From Shield AI's posting. “We” and “our” refer to the employer.
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai
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Shield AI is seeking a Business Development Lead to drive Shield AI growth for primarily our V-BAT ISR UAS & Hivemind Mission Autonomy capability in the UK, focused on defence and government customers operating in time-sensitive and non-standard acquisition environments.
The role is responsible for identifying, shaping, and closing complex opportunities—including urgent operational requirements—while building trusted relationships across specialist end-user communities and programme offices. The successful candidate will also recognize opportunities for Shield AI's Hivemind mission autonomy platform and partner with.
Sales Leadership, Product, Engineering, and Strategic Engagement teams to align customer needs with autonomous ISR and mission autonomy capabilities.
What You'll Do:: Own and drive the full sales lifecycle for V-BAT ISR opportunities across assigned accounts and territories, from pipeline generation through close — with particular focus on accelerated and non-standard acquisition pathways
Identify, qualify, and prosecute urgent operational requirement (UOR) opportunities by leveraging deep knowledge of how end-user communities generate, validate, and fund time-critical capability needs
Develop and execute territory and capture strategies for priority pursuits, aligning with Shield AI's long-term strategic plan and the evolving ISR and mission autonomy requirements of UK and allied special operations forces
Build and maintain trusted relationships with key decision-makers, capability sponsors, programme offices, and influencers across the special mission and broader defence community
Identify and shape requirements at source — engaging with users, capability development functions, and acquisition intermediaries to position V-BAT before formal requirements are crystallised
Recognise and surface Hivemind mission autonomy opportunities that emerge through V-BAT customer engagement, and partner with the wider Shield AI BD team to progress them appropriately
Lead proposal development in partnership with BD Operations and cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and value propositions
Conduct competitive analysis and position Shield AI's capability set effectively in complex, multi-stakeholder environments including those with restricted visibility
Partner with Product, Engineering, and Solutions teams to translate operational customer needs into compelling technical and mission-relevant solutions — spanning both V-BAT and Hivemind where relevant
Required qualifications:: Substantive operational background in the UK special operations, special mission, or high-readiness environment with experience in roles that bridged operational requirement and capability development
Direct familiarity with how ISR capabilities are identified, trialled, acquired, and sustained in non-standard or time-sensitive procurement environments
Demonstrated experience in capability development, capability acquisition, or working closely with the functions that sponsor and manage them — programme sponsors, requirements owners, or acquisition support roles
Preferred qualifications:: Prior commercial experience selling UAS, ISR, or autonomous systems — including AI-enabled mission systems — into UK defence or allied special operations customers
Our international teammates receive a comprehensive total rewards package aligned to your country office location. For full details on compensation and benefits, please consult your talent acquisition partner.
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