Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. 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. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
What you'll do:
Serve as Shield AI’s senior District representative across the Middle East, engaging senior military, government, and industry stakeholders while ensuring operational and regulatory compliance across activities in the district. Develop and execute a unified District strategy aligned with priorities in Middle East integrating country-level efforts into coordinated campaigns across CENTCOM, the GCC (excluding Saudi Arabia), and bilateral frameworks. Own district quota and sales performance, including pipeline development, forecast accuracy, order intake, and opportunity execution from shaping through close. Provide strategic direction and coordination for Country Business Development Leads across the District, setting priorities, driving execution discipline, and aligning stakeholder engagement and market strategy. District business growth across Shield AI’s product portfolio, including V-BAT, X-BAT, ViDAR and Hivemind, ensuring alignment with product and regional leadership priorities. Oversee cross-functional coordination across Business Development, Government Relations, Program Management, Legal, Contracts, PX, Marketing and Customer Operations to support successful capture, execution, and customer outcomes. Ensure successful execution of active district opportunities, maintaining accountability for performance, timelines, customer satisfaction, and long-term strategic growth. Build and maintain a disciplined, data-driven district pipeline and stakeholder engagement strategy to support sustained growth and follow-on business opportunities. Develop and manage district partnerships, resellers, and strategic industry relationships to expand market access and accelerate operational execution. Identify and mitigate political, procurement, operational, and strategic risks across the district while providing executive visibility into performance, risks, and growth outlook. Required qualifications:
Typically requires 10+ years of experience in defence, military operations, business development, capture management, or international government relations. Deep technical and operational understanding of Shield AI systems and technologies, including V-BAT, Hivemind, and X-BAT, with knowledge of operational employment concepts, payload integration, training, sustainment, and deployed operations. Proven experience operating across multiple international markets within defence, aerospace, or national security environments, including navigating complex government procurement and stakeholder ecosystems. Demonstrated ability to lead distributed, cross-functional teams and align senior stakeholders across multiple countries, cultures, and operational environments. Strong executive presence with experience engaging senior military leadership, Ministries of Defence, U.S. Embassies/ODCs, CENTCOM/GCC stakeholders, and strategic industry partners in high-visibility environments. Proven track record of driving pipeline development, capture strategy, and successful closure of complex, high-value defence opportunities. Arabic and English language proficiency relevant to the assigned district. Bachelor degree or relevant military education preferred. Preferred qualifications:
Prior district leadership experience across allied defence markets, including CENTCOM, Middle East, GCC, and/or other international government environments. Existing relationships with CENTCOM/GCC, Ministries of Defence, senior military leadership, defence procurement organizations, and strategic industry stakeholders. Experience leading international defence captures, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), or multinational procurement programs. Operational understanding of ISR, autonomy, unmanned systems, AI-enabled capabilities, and modern defence technology employment concepts. Experience managing district consultants, resellers, strategic partnerships, or industrial participation/offset initiatives. Familiarity with CENTCOM/GCC operational frameworks, allied capability development, and district defence modernization priorities. Demonstrated success operating in high-growth, fast-paced, and internationally distributed environments. Ability to attain or existing relevant national security clearance. Master’s degree in a relevant field. Why join Shield AI:
Help build the defining defence technology company of this century. Work at the forefront of AI, autonomy, and next-generation defence systems. Operate in a highly entrepreneurial and mission-driven environment. Make a direct impact on international growth and strategic defence partnerships. Collaborate with exceptional teams solving some of the world’s most complex operational challenges.