# Business Development Lead

**Company**: Shield AI
**Experience**: senior
**Job type**: full-time
**Category**: Sales
**Industry**: Defense

**Apply**: https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/3834c3fd-5957-481d-b935-b21ea773944e?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply
**Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_b3f81a2d-359

## Description

Shield AI is seeking a Business Development Lead to drive growth for its V-BAT ISR UAS and Hivemind Mission Autonomy capability in the UK, focusing on defense and government customers operating in time-sensitive and non-standard acquisition environments.

The role involves identifying, shaping, and closing complex opportunities, including urgent operational requirements, while building trusted relationships across specialist end-user communities and program 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.

**Key Responsibilities:**

- Own and drive the full sales lifecycle for V-BAT ISR opportunities across assigned accounts and territories

- Identify, qualify, and prosecute urgent operational requirement (UOR) opportunities

- Develop and execute territory and capture strategies for priority pursuits

- Build and maintain trusted relationships with key decision-makers and influencers

- Identify and shape requirements at source to position V-BAT before formal requirements are crystallized

- Recognize and surface Hivemind mission autonomy opportunities

- Lead proposal development in partnership with BD Operations and cross-functional teams

- Conduct competitive analysis and position Shield AI's capability set effectively

- Partner with Product, Engineering, and Solutions teams to translate operational customer needs into compelling technical and mission-relevant solutions

- Manage deal progression with rigor

- Represent Shield AI at relevant industry events and customer engagements

- Communicate clearly with internal stakeholders and leadership on pipeline status and risks

**Measures of Success (First 6–12 Months):**

- Credible pipeline generation within the special mission and UOR-adjacent customer set

- Successful identification and shaping of at least one urgent or accelerated acquisition opportunity

- Improved deal velocity and win rates

- Identification of at least one Hivemind-relevant opportunity

- Establishment of trusted relationships with key customer stakeholders

- Consistent, accurate forecasting and high-quality CRM and pipeline hygiene

- Meaningful contribution to Shield AI revenue growth

**Required Qualifications:**

- Substantive operational background in the UK special operations or high-readiness environment

- Direct familiarity with ISR capabilities and acquisition processes

- Demonstrated experience in capability development, acquisition, or related roles

- Proven track record of transitioning from military service into a commercial role

- Deep understanding of UK defense acquisition processes

- Strong experience developing and executing capture strategies

- Technical aptitude and excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills

- Active SC clearance as a minimum; DV-cleared candidates or those with eligibility strongly preferred

**Preferred Qualifications:**

- Prior commercial experience selling UAS, ISR, or autonomous systems into UK defense or allied special operations customers

- Established relationships within the special operations or special mission community

- Familiarity with mission autonomy concepts and AI-enabled systems

- Experience engaging with Large Systems Integrators (LSIs) and strategic partners

- Familiarity with the broader UAS regulatory and airspace integration landscape

- Ability to travel as required

## Skills

### Required
- Business Development
- Sales Leadership
- Defence Acquisition
- ISR Capabilities
- Autonomous Systems
- Mission Autonomy
- Stakeholder Management
- Proposal Development
- Competitive Analysis

### Nice to have
- UAS
- AI-enabled Mission Systems
- Large Systems Integrators
- Mission Autonomy Concepts
- Airspace Integration

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Source: [Apply at jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/3834c3fd-5957-481d-b935-b21ea773944e?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply)