Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Shield AI is hiring a Staff Solutions Engineer to lead technical sales and capture activities for the X-BAT aircraft program, with a specific focus on the European defense market. This role requires a proven technical leader with experience supporting European defense programs in the conceptual or pre-solicitation phase-ideally within tactical aviation, advanced unmanned systems, or next-generation combat air initiatives. The position serves as the primary technical interface between Shield AI and European government and industry partners, shaping requirements, ensuring exportability, and aligning X-BAT's roadmap with NATO and allied mission needs.
What you'll do:- Lead pre-sales and technical engagement activities with European defense ministries, OEMs, and industry partners.
- Collaborate with Business Development, Engineering, and Program Management to align system capabilities with European CONOPS, mission sets, and interoperability requirements.
- Support FMS/DCS capture efforts and early acquisition phases (AOAs, RFI responses, white papers, and cooperative research initiatives).
- Develop and present compelling technical narratives and product concepts for NATO-aligned missions (ISR, strike, autonomy integration).
- Build enduring relationships with customer engineering offices, defense attaches, and partner OEMs to guide product fit and technical validation.
- Assess regional market dynamics, export constraints, and competitor positioning to inform internal investment and roadmap decisions.
- Represent the broader Shield AI technology ecosystem across autonomy, AI pilots, and mission systems throughout the customer engagement lifecycle.
Required Qualifications:- 5+ years in technical sales, capture, or engineering roles in European defense or aerospace markets.
- Proven experience supporting or capturing programs with European MODs, NATO, or multinational industry teams.
- Strong presentation and technical storytelling skills for diverse audiences-from engineers to senior defense officials.
- Experience with Group 5 UAS, tactical aircraft, or combat air teaming concepts.
- Familiarity with European export control frameworks and transatlantic defense cooperation.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or applied science; strong systems-level understanding of aircraft design and mission integration.
- U.S. security clearance (or ability to obtain) and eligibility for international travel and engagements.
Preferred qualifications- Experience with European primes (BAE Systems, Airbus, Leonardo, Saab, Rheinmetall, etc.) or NATO programs.
- Background in coalition operations, multi-domain autonomy, or AI-enabled ISR systems.
- Knowledge of European Defence Agency (EDA), and other bilateral procurement frameworks.
- Advanced degree in engineering or business.
- Military, attach, or liaison officer experience a plus.
- Willingness to travel frequently to Europe.
$131,840 - $197,760 a year
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.
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.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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