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Shield AI, a venture-backed defense-tech company, is seeking a Senior Lead for Enterprise Strategy and Operations to drive multi-year strategic planning and capital allocation across its portfolio of autonomy software, aircraft platforms, and simulation technologies.
In this role, you will own three core pillars:
**Enterprise Strategy Development**: Support multi-year strategic planning and annual operating 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 spanning new platforms, manufacturing, and international expansion. Assess TAM, margin structure, capital intensity, payback, and risk-adjusted returns. Contribute to 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 planning and execution of integration efforts for acquisitions and inorganic growth initiatives. Track progress through structured operating cadences (monthly and quarterly reviews). Identify bottlenecks, analyze root causes, and recommend actionable solutions.
**M&A Integration**: Lead end-to-end integration planning and execution for acquisitions and strategic investments. Establish integration operating models including governance, decision rights, cross-functional cadences, KPI dashboards, and risk-escalation mechanisms. Partner with business, functional, and acquired-company leaders to resolve bottlenecks, manage interdependencies, and track synergy realization against the original investment case.
Shield AI operates globally with offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, supporting defense operations worldwide.
**Requirements:**
- Minimum 12+ years of experience with Bachelor's degree, 8+ years with Master's degree, or 5+ years with PhD
- Minimum 4+ years in strategy consulting, corporate strategy, or other high-rigor analytical 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 with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
