Staff Field Solution Engineer - XBAT - AMER (R6265)

Shield AI is hiring a Senior Solutions Engineer to support technical sales for a flagship aircraft program currently in early design and development. This role requires a proven leader who has supported large-scale domestic and international defense programs in the conceptual or pre-solicitation phase , ideally in tactical aviation or high-performance unmanned systems.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the technical lead supporting pre-sales engagements for a new advanced aircraft platform targeting high-end tactical missions.
• Collaborate with senior leaders across Business Development, Engineering, and Product Management to influence product definition, capability prioritization, and solution alignment with customer operational concepts.
• Support technical capture for domestic and international opportunities in early acquisition phases.
• Shape and translate customer needs into actionable system requirements, roadmaps, and program strategies.
• Develop compelling technical narratives and lead content development for briefings, RFIs, white papers, and proposal volumes.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with customer technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to internal investment decisions by assessing market signals, competitor activity, and technical feasibility.
• Represent the broader Shield AI solution suite across the pre-sales lifecycle.

Required qualifications:

• 5+ years in technical sales, capture, or engineering roles in defense or aerospace industries.
• Demonstrated experience supporting government sales in pre-prototype or pre-solicitation phases.
• Excellent presentation skills, organization of technical ideas, and narrative building.
• Experience with programs involving tactical aircraft, fighter jets, or group 5 UAS.
• Proven success contributing to deals valued over $15M.
• Strong systems-level understanding of aircraft design tradeoffs, customer CONOPS, and mission-based engineering.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, applied science, or equivalent technical discipline.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, balance competing priorities, and operate independently in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Active U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working at a major defense prime.
• Background in multi-domain operations, autonomy, or networked ISR systems.
• Familiarity with key acquisition programs.
• Advanced degree in engineering or business.
• Prior military service experience.
• Prefer relocation to Dallas, TX or Washington DC

Benefits:

• Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Salary: $180,000 - $280,000 a year