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Shield AI, a venture-backed defense-tech company, is seeking a Staff Field Solution Engineer to serve as the technical lead for pre-sales engagements on an advanced aircraft platform targeting high-end tactical missions. You will collaborate with senior leaders across Business Development, Engineering, and Product Management to influence product definition, capability prioritization, and solution alignment with customer operational concepts.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead technical capture for domestic and international opportunities in early acquisition phases (AOAs, RFIs, Requirement Drafts, white papers, unsolicited proposals)
- 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, including U.S. DoD program offices and foreign governments
- Contribute to internal investment decisions by assessing market signals, competitor activity, and technical feasibility
- Represent the broader Shield AI solution suite (autonomy, AI pilots, ISR systems, mission software) across the pre-sales lifecycle
Shield AI's products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. The company operates globally with offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 5+ years in technical sales, capture, or engineering roles in defense or aerospace industries, with significant experience interfacing with U.S. DoD and/or international ministries of defense
- Demonstrated experience supporting government sales in pre-prototype or pre-solicitation phases
- Demonstrated excellence in presentation skills, organization of technical ideas, and narrative building for leadership-level stakeholders
- 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 to translate technical information into compelling sales narratives for technical and non-technical stakeholders
- 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 at a major defense prime (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Anduril, RTX) or USG in technical business development, engineering, product management, advanced programs, or strategic pursuits
- Background in multi-domain operations, autonomy, or networked ISR systems
- Familiarity with key acquisition programs (NGAD, CCA, FMS/DCS pathways)
- Advanced degree in engineering or business with applicable focus areas
- Prior military service experience
- Willingness to relocate to Dallas, TX or Washington, DC
