Lead multi-year strategic planning and annual operating cycles, evaluate portfolio tradeoffs, build financial models for capital allocation, and translate strategy into cross-functional execution plans with KPIs. Conduct market sizing, competitive analysis, scenario modeling, and track performance through operating cadences to identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions.
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.
Shield AI is seeking a Strategy & Operations Director to help define enterprise strategy and ensure its operational execution. This role offers immersive exposure to the company’s most critical decisions — spanning aircraft systems, AI software (Hivemind), autonomy hardware, and international growth.
As a core member of the Strategy & Operations team, you’ll apply structured problem‑solving, financial rigor, and operational discipline to turn strategic priorities into actionable, measurable outcomes. The role combines high‑performance expectations with a strong learning and development environment — ideal for professionals seeking to grow into future strategy, operations, or general management leaders.
What you'll do:
- Lead the multi‑year strategic planning and annual operating strategy cycles.
- Evaluate portfolio tradeoffs across platforms, software, hardware, and emerging growth vectors.
- Conduct market sizing, competitive analysis, and scenario modeling across U.S. and allied defense markets.
- 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.
- Translate strategic priorities into cross‑functional execution plans with defined KPIs and milestones.
- 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.
Enterprise Strategy Development:
Capital Allocation & Business Case Rigor:
Operationalization of Strategy:
Required qualifications:
- Min 12+ years of experience with Bachelors, 8+ with Masters, and 5+ with PhD.
- Min 4+ years’ experience in a top-tier strategy consulting, corporate strategy or other high‑rigor roles.
- Strong analytical and conceptual problem‑solving abilities.
- 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).
#LI-AD7
#LF
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.
Shield AI London, England Office
Shield AI London Office
4 More London Place, London, England, United Kingdom, SE1 2AF
Similar Jobs at Shield AI
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Develop state estimation and navigation algorithms for autonomous systems operating in GPS-denied environments. Build production-grade C++ software for embedded Linux robotic platforms, create modeling and simulation tools, and implement comprehensive testing and validation. Collaborate on roadmap planning and agile execution while improving benchmarking and performance-analysis pipelines. The role requires professional C++ expertise, state estimation algorithm experience, sensor-fusion familiarity, and the ability to deploy reliable autonomy software.
Top Skills:
Automated TestingBarometersC++CamerasCeresCi PipelinesEkfEmbedded LinuxGpsGraph-Based OptimizationGtsamImuLaser AltimetersMagnetometersMatlabOpenvinsParticle FiltersPythonSlamUkfVio
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Develop deep learning and 3D computer vision models for state estimation, visual navigation, localization, depth, correspondence, and pose estimation. Own data preparation, training, evaluation, benchmarking, and reproducible workflows. Integrate learned measurements into VIO and terrain-relative navigation systems, optimize models for onboard compute, and collaborate with deployment, software, systems, and flight-test teams to deliver production-ready Hivemind SDK components.
Top Skills:
3D Computer VisionDeep LearningDiffusion ModelsEmbedded Compute PlatformsFlow MatchingGpu ComputingModel QuantizationMulti-View GeometryOnnxPythonPyTorchSensor Data PipelinesSlamStructure From Motion (Sfm)TensorrtVisual-Inertial Odometry (Vio)
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Leads Shield AI’s Enterprise Data delivery organization, managing data engineering, analytics engineering, domain enablement, and governance teams. Translates enterprise data strategy into sequenced roadmaps, manages priorities, capacity, dependencies, risks, and stakeholder expectations, and ensures production-ready, governed data products. Partners with architecture, platform engineering, security, and business leaders on technical tradeoffs, data quality, lineage, reliability, and investment priorities. Also owns hiring, coaching, performance development, delivery metrics, and continuous improvement of the data operating model.
Top Skills:
DatabricksDatabricks SqlDatabricks WorkflowsDelta LakeLakehouse ArchitectureUnity Catalog
What you need to know about the London Tech Scene
London isn't just a hub for established businesses; it's also a nursery for innovation. Boasting one of the most recognized fintech ecosystems in Europe, attracting billions in investments each year, London's success has made it a go-to destination for startups looking to make their mark. Top U.K. companies like Hoptin, Moneybox and Marshmallow have already made the city their base — yet fintech is just the beginning. From healthtech to renewable energy to cybersecurity and beyond, the city's startups are breaking new ground across a range of industries.
