Business Development & Sales Lead - UK

The role

You will lead business development for Shield AI's V-BAT ISR drone system and Hivemind mission autonomy software in the UK. The role focuses on defence and government customers, including urgent and non-standard acquisition routes, and includes owning the full sales cycle, building customer relationships and writing proposals.

What you will do

• Own the full sales cycle for V-BAT ISR opportunities, from pipeline generation to close
• Identify, qualify and pursue urgent operational requirement opportunities
• Develop and execute territory and capture strategies for priority pursuits
• Build and maintain relationships with key decision-makers and programme offices
• Shape requirements early with users, capability functions and acquisition intermediaries
• Surface Hivemind mission autonomy opportunities through V-BAT customer engagement
• Lead proposal development with BD Operations and cross-functional teams
• Conduct competitive analysis and position Shield AI's capabilities
• Work with Product, Engineering and Solutions teams on customer solutions
• Manage deal progression, forecasting and CRM hygiene, and report pipeline status to leadership

Required qualifications

• Substantive operational background in UK special operations, special mission or high-readiness environments, including roles bridging operational requirement and capability development
• Direct familiarity with how ISR capabilities are identified, trialled, acquired and sustained in non-standard or time-sensitive procurement
• Experience in capability development, capability acquisition, or working with programme sponsors, requirements owners or acquisition support
• Proven track record moving from military service into a commercial role selling defence capability to special operations or MoD customers
• Deep understanding of UK defence acquisition processes, including formal and accelerated or urgent pathways
• Strong experience developing and executing capture strategies for complex, relationship-driven opportunities
• Technical aptitude to engage with Engineering, Product and Operational stakeholders on UAS ISR performance, integration and autonomous systems
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• Self-motivated, results-oriented and able to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment
• Active SC clearance as a minimum

Nice to have

• Prior commercial experience selling UAS, ISR or autonomous systems, including AI-enabled mission systems, to UK defence or allied special operations customers
• Established relationships within the special operations or special mission community in a commercial capacity
• Familiarity with mission autonomy concepts and AI-enabled systems in special operations and defence capability planning
• Experience engaging with Large Systems Integrators and strategic partners in the UK UAS market
• Familiarity with UAS regulation and airspace integration in the UK and Europe
• Ability to travel as required
• Degree-level education or equivalent professional development
• DV clearance or eligibility

Benefits

• Comprehensive total rewards package aligned to your country office location; full details available from your talent acquisition partner

Before you apply

• Active SC clearance is required as a minimum
• DV-cleared candidates or those with DV eligibility are strongly preferred

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defence-tech company that builds intelligent systems to protect service members and civilians. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies, with offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.