Senior Lead, Enterprise Strategy and Operations (R6097)

Shield; San Diego (TX); On-site; USD 160,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a senior strategist to shape the next generation of defense technology. You will guide multi-year planning, advise on investments, and translate bold strategic priorities into actionable initiatives across the organization.

Requirements include 12+ years in strategy roles, 4+ years in high‑rigor settings, strong analytical skills, and experience in technology or defense sectors. Citizenship and ability to obtain security clearance are required.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in strategy roles or consulting.
• 4+ years leading cross-functional transformations in tech/defense environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience structuring ambiguous problems and driving insight.
• Proficiency with financial modeling and scenario analysis.

Responsibilities

• Shape enterprise strategy and multi-year planning for Shield AI.
• Evaluate portfolio tradeoffs across platforms, software, and hardware.
• Construct business cases, TAM, margins, and capital intensity analyses.
• Lead cross-functional execution plans with defined KPIs and milestones.
• Oversee integration efforts for acquisitions and strategic investments.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial modeling

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder influence

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Job description

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 .

Job Description:

Shape the strategy behind the next generation of defense technology. In this role, you’ll tackle complex business challenges, guide high-impact investment decisions, and turn bold strategic priorities into action, partnering across the organization to drive growth, scale, and long-term impact.

What you'll do:

Enterprise Strategy Development:

• Support 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.

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.

Required qualifications:

• Min 12+ years of experience with Bachelors, 8+ with Masters, and 5+ with PhD.
• Min 4+ 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).

$160,000 - $250,000 a year

#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.

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 and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. 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.