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 https://shield.ai/. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/shield-ai, X https://x.com/shieldaitech, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shield_ai, and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@Shield_AI.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Shape the strategy behind the next generation of defense technology. In this role, you’ll tackle complex business challenges, guide high-impact investment decisions, and turn bold strategic priorities into action, partnering across the organization to drive growth, scale, and long-term impact.
What you'll do:
- Enterprise Strategy Development:
- Support the multi‑year strategic planning and annual operating strategy cycles.
- Evaluate portfolio tradeoffs across platforms, software, hardware, and emerging growth vectors.
- Conduct market sizing, competitive analysis, and scenario modeling across U.S. and allied defense markets.
Capital Allocation & Business Case Rigor:
- Build financial models and analytic frameworks for investment decisions (new platforms, manufacturing, international expansion).
- Assess TAM, margin structure, capital intensity, payback, and risk‑adjusted returns.
- Contribute to the development of enterprise‑wide capital allocation frameworks and governance processes.
Operationalization of Strategy:
- Translate strategic priorities into cross‑functional execution plans with defined KPIs and milestones.
- Lead the planning and execution of integration efforts for acquisitions, strategic investments, and other inorganic growth initiatives.
- Track and report on progress through structured operating cadences (monthly and quarterly performance reviews).
- Identify bottlenecks, analyze root causes, and recommend actionable solutions to sustain execution velocity.
Required qualifications:
- Min 12+ years of experience with Bachelors, 8+ with Masters, and 5+ with PhD.
- Min 4+ years’ experience in a strategy consulting, corporate strategy or other high‑rigor roles.
- Strong analytical and conceptual problem‑solving abilities.
- Experience leading complex, cross-functional transformations in fast-paced, technology-driven environments
- Demonstrated ability to structure ambiguous problems and drive insight through analysis.
- Financial modeling and analytical capability (unit economics, forecasting, scenario analysis).
- Experience or strong interest in complex, technical, or regulated industries (aerospace, defense, AI, or advanced manufacturing preferred).
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams and influence senior stakeholders.
- U.S. citizenship required (ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance).
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Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
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