Shield AI
Shield AI
Shield AI develops artificial intelligence systems for aerospace and defense applications. Its Hivemind platform supports autonomous mission capabilities, including intelligent drone operation, surveillance, and battlefield awareness. Founded in 2015, the company brings together expertise in AI, aerospace, and defense to build technologies intended to help protect service members and civilians.

Senior Business Development Lead, Italy

Lead Shield AI’s defense technology business development across Italy, covering AI autonomy, aircraft, ISR, and mission systems. Own territory strategy, pipeline development, deal execution, and strategic account growth.

Description

  • Drive Shield AI’s go-to-market strategy across assigned markets
  • Develop and expand a pipeline of autonomy, aircraft, ISR, and mission-system opportunities
  • Manage the full deal cycle from account planning and customer shaping through proposals, negotiation, and contract award
  • Build relationships with senior military leaders, defense ministries, procurement authorities, sovereign stakeholders, and strategic industry partners
  • Position Shield AI’s autonomy and aircraft portfolio, including V-BAT, X-BAT, ViDAR-enabled ISR capabilities, and Hivemind autonomy software
  • Establish and oversee regional partnerships, consultants, industrial participation structures, and offset-aligned strategies
  • Align teams across Business Development, Product, Engineering, Government Relations, Legal, Contracts, Export Compliance, Operations, and Customer functions
  • Oversee forecasting, pipeline accuracy, opportunity tracking, and campaign reporting
  • Deliver regional intelligence on competitors, customer requirements, and political or operational risks
  • Support executive customer engagement after award, customer success, follow-on opportunities, and long-term account expansion

Requirements

  • Typically requires 6+ years of experience in business development, capture, sales, strategic engagement, account management, or related customer-facing roles in defense, aerospace, national security, or advanced technology
  • Proven ability to identify, shape, and advance complex opportunities involving long sales cycles, senior stakeholders, and technically differentiated solutions
  • Executive presence and the ability to establish credibility with military, government, industry, and strategic partner stakeholders
  • Strong communication, negotiation, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration capabilities
  • Fluency in English and regional languages relevant to the assigned market
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional, military, or operational experience preferred
  • Experience in a consulting environment is highly desirable
  • Experience with UAS, autonomy, ISR, mission systems, aerospace, or AI-enabled operational capabilities
  • Established relationships with defense ministries, military organizations, procurement authorities, or strategic industry partners in the assigned territory
  • Experience supporting direct commercial sales, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), or international government procurement programs
  • Prior military, operational defense, government, or national security experience

Benefits

  • Comprehensive total rewards package aligned with the country office location
  • Opportunity to contribute to AI, autonomy, and next-generation defense systems
  • Entrepreneurial, mission-focused working environment
  • Direct influence on international growth and strategic defense partnerships
  • Collaboration with high-performing teams tackling complex operational challenges

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