Shield AI

Builds autonomous aircraft for defense

Lead Enterprise Strategy and Operations

Business OperationsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-time

About the Job

Requirements

A minimum of 6 years of experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 3 years with a Master's degree.
At least 2 years of experience in strategy consulting, corporate strategy, or another high-rigor role.
Strong analytical and conceptual problem-solving abilities.
Experience leading complex, cross-functional transformations in fast-paced, technology-driven environments.
Ability to structure ambiguous problems and derive insights through analysis.
Financial modeling and analytical capability, including unit economics, forecasting, and scenario analysis.
Experience or strong interest in complex, technical, or regulated industries such as aerospace, defense, artificial intelligence, or advanced manufacturing.
Ability to work collaboratively across teams and influence senior stakeholders.
U.S. citizenship is required, along with the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

Build financial models and analytical frameworks for investment decisions involving new platforms, manufacturing, and international expansion.
Assess total addressable market, margin structure, capital intensity, payback, and risk-adjusted returns.
Contribute to developing enterprise-wide capital allocation frameworks and governance processes.
Translate strategic priorities into cross-functional execution plans with defined key performance indicators and milestones.
Lead planning and execution of integration efforts for acquisitions, strategic investments, and other inorganic growth initiatives.
Track and report progress through structured monthly and quarterly performance reviews.
Identify bottlenecks, analyze root causes, and recommend actionable solutions to sustain execution velocity.
Lead cross-functional mergers and acquisitions integration from diligence and pre-close planning through Day 1, Day 100, and the transition to business as usual.
Translate deal objectives into integrated workplans, governance, milestones, decision forums, and executive reporting.
Coordinate functional leaders to manage dependencies, resolve critical issues, and maintain business, customer, and mission continuity.
Partner with Finance and business leaders to validate, track, and realize synergy, capability, and operational-value targets.
Build repeatable integration playbooks, tools, and lessons learned to improve speed, rigor, and value capture across future transactions.

Salary Range: 140000 to 200000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

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. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

What you'll do:

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.

M&A Integration:

Lead cross-functional M&A integration from diligence and pre-close planning through Day 1, Day 100, and business-as-usual transition.
Translate deal objectives into integrated workplans, governance, milestones, decision forums, and executive reporting.
Coordinate functional leaders to manage dependencies, resolve critical issues, and maintain business, customer, and mission continuity.
Partner with Finance and business leaders to validate, track, and realize synergy, capability, and operational-value targets.
Build repeatable integration playbooks, tools, and lessons learned to improve speed, rigor, and value capture across future transactions.

Required qualifications:

Min 6+ years of experience with Bachelors, 3+ with Masters.

Min 2+ 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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#LE

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.

About the Company

Shield AI

Builds autonomous aircraft for defense

Shield AI builds autonomous aircraft and flight software for military and allied defense customers, with a focus on operations where conventional remote control breaks down. Its Hivemind AI pilot handles decisions during a mission, while the V-BAT aircraft gathers intelligence and locates targets. Aircraft makers use its software tools to develop and test their own autonomy, and its Aechelon business supplies visual and sensor simulation for pilot training. The company earns money from aircraft sales, autonomy software and contracted engineering and operational services. Shield AI was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Series H
Total funding: $4.8B
Headquarters: San Diego, CA
Founded: 2015

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