Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram. Shield AI is hiring a Senior Solutions Engineer to lead technical sales and capture support 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. This position will serve as a key technical interface to senior government stakeholders, business development, and engineering leadership, shaping requirements and aligning our product roadmap with future mission needs.
What you'll do:
- Serve as the primary 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.
- Lead technical capture for domestic and international opportunities in early acquisition phases (e.g., 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.
- Mentor junior solutions engineers and contribute to the growth of a technically rigorous sales organization. Over time, grow a technical sales team to support sales growth with a 'right-sized' team.
- Represent the broader Shield AI solution suite (including autonomy, AI pilots, ISR systems, and mission software) across the pre-sales lifecycle.
Required Qualifications:
- 10+ 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 a variety of stakeholders at leadership levels with direct customers.
- 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, with the ability to clearly translate technical information into compelling sales narratives for both 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 working at a major defense prime (e.g., Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Anduril, RTX) in a technical business development, engineering, product management, advanced programs, or strategic pursuits capacity.
- Background in multi-domain operations, autonomy, or networked ISR systems.
- Familiarity with key acquisition programs (e.g., NGAD, CCA, FMS/DCS pathways).
- Advanced degree in engineering or business with applicable focus areas.
- Prior military service experience.
- Prefer relocation to Dallas, TX or Washington DC
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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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
