We are seeking a seasoned Corporate Development leader to both source and lead the execution of strategic initiatives, including partnerships, investments, and M&A. This individual will operate as a thought partner to executives, shaping the company’s long-term growth strategy at the intersection of defense, autonomy, and AI.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience across corporate development, private equity, investment banking, or consulting, combined with strong domain fluency in defense and/or advanced technology. This role requires exceptional judgment, hands-on-deal leadership, initiative, and the ability to operate autonomously in complex, high-stakes environments.
What you'll do:
- Originate, evaluate, and lead complex, high-value strategic partnerships that accelerate Shield AI’s market position and capabilities.
- Structure and negotiate sophisticated commercial agreements, including joint ventures, technology partnerships, and strategic alliances.
- Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key industry players, government stakeholders, and ecosystem partners.
- Identify non-obvious partnership opportunities that unlock long-term strategic advantage.
- Lead end-to-end M&A execution, including sourcing, evaluation, deal structuring, negotiation, and integration planning.
- Own advanced financial modeling, valuation, and scenario analysis to inform investment decisions.
- Own internal and external transaction presentation materials and collateral.
- Coordinate rigorous diligence processes across financial, operational, technical, and regulatory dimensions.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team on corporate strategy, capital allocation, and inorganic growth opportunities.
- Translate ambiguous strategic questions into structured analyses and actionable recommendations.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives involving finance, legal, product, engineering, and operations to execute complex transactions.
- Influence senior stakeholders and align diverse teams around high-impact decisions.
- Develop deep insights into defense, autonomy, and AI markets, including competitive dynamics, emerging technologies, and regulatory trends.
- Proactively identify strategic risks and opportunities, shaping Shield AI’s long-term positioning.
- Deliver clear, data-driven recommendations to executives and board-level stakeholders.
- Contribute meaningfully to corporate strategy development and long-range planning.
Strategic Partnerships & Growth Initiatives
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Investments
Strategic Leadership & Executive Partnership
Market Intelligence & Strategic Planning
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, JD, or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred
- 12+ years of experience in corporate development, private equity, investment banking, strategy consulting, or related fields.
- Proven track record of deal captaining complex transactions (M&A, partnerships, or investments) end-to-end.
- Strong expertise in valuation, financial modeling, and transaction structuring.
- Experience operating in defense, aerospace, or advanced technology sectors (AI, autonomy, robotics, or software) strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and operate effectively in high-stakes, ambiguous environments.
- Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex analyses into clear, compelling narratives.
- Highly self-directed, with a bias for ownership and delivering results in fast-paced, high-growth settings.
- In-house corporate deal experience strongly preferred
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- MBA, JD, or equivalent advanced degree
- 12+ years of experience in corporate development, private equity, investment banking, strategy consulting, or related fields
- Proven track record of deal captaining complex transactions (M&A, partnerships, or investments) end-to-end
- Strong expertise in valuation, financial modeling, and transaction structuring
- Experience operating in defense, aerospace, or advanced technology sectors (AI, autonomy, robotics, or software)
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and operate effectively in high-stakes, ambiguous environments
- Exceptional communication skills, with ability to synthesize complex analyses into clear narratives
- Highly self-directed with a bias for ownership and delivering results in fast-paced settings
- In-house corporate deal experience
- Ability to lead cross-functional diligence across financial, operational, technical, and regulatory dimensions
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials describe excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage alongside a mental‑health EAP. Site perks such as an onsite gym in DC and a gym discount in San Diego support a health‑focused offering.
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Retirement Support — Careers materials highlight a 401(k) with company match as part of the standard package. A Total Rewards overview emphasizes retirement features within a broader, transparent compensation view.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Compensation for in‑demand technical and senior go‑to‑market roles is described as competitive, with visible engineering ranges and top‑end packages. This points to meaningful upside tied to role, level, and scarce skills.
Shield AI Insights
What We Do
At Shield AI, you won't wait years to see your work reach the field. You'll build hardware and software that operates in the real world right now, in the hands of the people who depend on it. Hivemind, our AI pilot, has been flying since 2018. It has flown more than 30 platforms, including an F-16, and it now sits under a U.S. Air Force production contract for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. When you write code or shape a system here, you contribute to technology with a proven flight record and a clear production future. V-BAT flies intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with an operational record that stretches from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific. It delivers eyes where they matter most, in the most demanding conditions on earth. The teams behind it watch their work get tested where the stakes are real. X-BAT takes its first flight this year. It's an AI-piloted fighter that needs no runway, built to operate where traditional aircraft can't. Join now and you help shape a program at its earliest, most formative stage. That's the kind of ground-floor work that defines a career. Do the most impactful work of your life, on problems that matter. Autonomy at this level asks a lot of you. You'll take on problems in perception, planning, and control that few teams anywhere are equipped to solve. You'll work across disciplines, from aerospace and robotics to machine learning and systems engineering, alongside people who hold themselves to an exacting standard and expect the same from you. Our mission is clear: protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. That purpose runs through every decision, every design review, and every deployment. It's why the work here carries a weight you can feel. Ready to join our mission? Explore our open roles and find where you fit.
Why Work With Us
Founded in 2015 by a former Navy SEAL, Shield AI builds AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft. Veterans aren't an afterthought here, they're at every level. It's why the work carries weight: AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft flying real missions, from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific, protecting service members and civilians.
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Shield AI Teams
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Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
