Senior Staff BD Account Executive, Hivemind - Army (R4794)

Shield AI; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 270,000 - 400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Bonus

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI seeks a high-performing Business Development / Account Executive to drive Hivemind Autonomy across the Americas, with a primary focus on U.S. defense and government customers.

You will own the full sales lifecycle from pipeline generation through close, shaping opportunities, and delivering mission-critical autonomy solutions in collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Strategy teams. Strong capture instincts and governance are required, with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years in business development, sales, or capture in complex domains.
• Proven track record in U.S. government/defense markets.
• Deep understanding of defense acquisition processes and procurement lifecycle.
• Experience developing and executing capture strategies for complex opportunities.
• Ability to engage credibly with engineering, product, and operations teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end sales lifecycle for Hivemind opportunities across assigned accounts/territories.
• Develop and execute territory and capture strategies aligned with long-term plans.
• Identify, qualify, and shape new opportunities by understanding missions, budgets, and pathways.
• Build relationships with key decision-makers and program offices across defense/government customers.
• Lead proposal development with BD Operations and cross-functional teams.
• Conduct competitive analysis and position Hivemind effectively in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Translate customer needs into compelling technical and operational solutions.

Skills

BD strategy

Government sales

Capture management

Technical credibility

CRM & forecasting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

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

Shield AI is seeking a high-performing Business Development / Account Executive to drive growth for Hivemind Autonomy across the Americas, with a primary focus on U.S.-based defense and government customers. This role is responsible for identifying, shaping, and closing complex opportunities while building enduring customer relationships and executing disciplined capture strategies. You will partner closely with Sales Leadership, Product, Engineering, and Strategic Engagement teams to align customer needs with Hivemind’s autonomy capabilities and deliver mission-critical outcomes. The ideal candidate is a customer-first, technically credible seller with strong capture instincts, experience navigating defense acquisition processes, and a proven track record of winning and expanding strategic accounts.

What you'll do

• Own and drive the full sales lifecycle for Hivemind opportunities across assigned accounts/territories (pipeline generation through close)
• Develop and execute territory and capture strategies for priority pursuits, aligning with Shield AI’s long-term strategic plan
• Identify, qualify, and shape new business opportunities through deep understanding of customer missions, budgets, and acquisition pathways
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers, program offices, and influencers across defense and government customers
• Lead proposal development in partnership with BD Operations and cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and value propositions
• Conduct competitive analysis and position Hivemind effectively in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Solutions teams to translate customer needs into compelling technical and operational solutions
• Manage deal progression with rigor (qualification, deal strategy, forecasting accuracy, CRM hygiene)
• Represent Shield AI at industry events, conferences, and customer engagements to expand market presence and pipeline
• Communicate clearly with internal stakeholders and leadership on pipeline status, risks, and key milestones

Measures of Success (First 6–12 Months)

• Strong pipeline generation and progression within assigned accounts and territories
• Successful execution of capture strategies resulting in qualified opportunities and wins
• Improved deal velocity and win rates through disciplined qualification and positioning
• Establishment of trusted relationships with key customer stakeholders and partners
• Consistent, accurate forecasting and high-quality CRM and pipeline hygiene
• Meaningful contribution to revenue growth across the Americas Hivemind business

Required qualifications

• 10–15+ years of experience in business development, sales, or capture roles in technically complex domains (AI/ML, autonomy, SaaS, aerospace/defense, or similar)
• Proven track record of owning and closing deals, particularly within U.S. government or defense markets
• Deep understanding of defense acquisition processes and government procurement lifecycle
• Strong experience developing and executing capture strategies for complex opportunities
• Technical aptitude and ability to engage credibly with Engineering, Product, and Operational stakeholders
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and capable of operating in a fast-paced environment
• Bachelor’s degree required

Preferred qualifications

• Experience selling autonomy, AI/ML, or unmanned systems (UAS) solutions a plus
• Prior military experience
• Established relationships within defense, government, or aerospace customer sets
• Experience working with Large Systems Integrators (LSIs) and strategic partners
• Ability to travel as needed for customer engagements and industry events
• Active or eligibility for security clearance
• MBA or equivalent graduate degree

$270,000 - $400,000 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 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.