Sr. Manager, International Strategic Engagement - Asia

Shield AI•Washington, DC

About The Position

As an International Strategic Engagement Senior Manager for the Asia region, based in Washington, D.C., you will play a key role in Shield AI’s international growth and U.S.-based engagement strategy. You will be responsible for developing and executing initiatives that strengthen relationships with key Asia-region stakeholders—particularly through coordination with embassies, defense attachés, and visiting delegations in D.C.—as well as supporting engagements and demonstrations at Shield AI’s major facilities in Texas, California, and the D.C. area.

Requirements

United States Citizen.
Active U.S. Department of War Secret security clearance.
Based in or willing to relocate to the Washington, D.C. area.
Exceptional communicator: strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage seamlessly across government, military, and industry audiences.
Charismatic leader with the ability to motivate and inspire others while conveying Shield AI’s mission, technology, and products.
Deep understanding of U.S. and allied defense acquisition processes and how they relate to international collaboration and export frameworks.
10+ years of relevant military, defense industry, international business, and/or high-growth tech start-up experience with a clear track record of top performance.
Proven ability to manage high-level stakeholder engagements, including senior defense officials, embassy representatives, and foreign delegations.
Self-motivated and results-oriented, with a track record of exceeding goals and delivering impact across cross-functional teams.
Strong cultural fluency and ability to work effectively with international partners across Asia-Pacific.
Demonstrated understanding or strong technical curiosity in UAV and/or AI autonomy systems.
Willing and able to travel periodically, both domestically (for major demos, facility visits, and events) and internationally (for key meetings or trade shows).
Ability to collaborate closely with Shield AI’s Chief Growth Officer, Chief Technology Officer, International EVP, the Asia regional leadership, and other U.S.-based leadership teams.
Team-oriented, with the ability to balance collaborative communication with direct, forthright input.
Proficient in the systems and tools required to operate at the speed of business.
Bachelor’s degree required.

Nice To Haves

Specific experience supporting Asia-Pacific markets from a U.S.-based government or defense industry role.
Prior UAV, autonomy, or AI-related business development experience.
MBA or related Master’s degree in international affairs, plus 10+ years of leadership and/or operational experience within the U.S. DoD or international equivalents.
Familiarity with U.S.-Asia defense cooperation frameworks, foreign military sales (FMS), offset, and technology-transfer pathways.
Strong research and analysis skills.
Relevant foreign language skills (e.g., Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin).
Either active or ability to obtain U.S. Department of War Top Secret / SCI clearances.

Responsibilities

Advance Shield AI’s partnerships, programs, and business opportunities.
Serve as one of the company’s primary U.S.-based representatives for Middle East/Asia Pacific-related efforts
Ensure seamless coordination between international stakeholders and Shield AI’s domestic operations
Strengthen the company’s relationships across the defense, aerospace, and technology ecosystems.