Staff Solutions Engineer (R4212)

Shield AI • San Diego, CA

4d

About The Position

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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 hiring a Staff Solutions Engineer to lead technical sales and capture activities for the X-BAT aircraft program, with a specific focus on the European defense market. This role requires a proven technical leader with experience supporting European defense programs in the conceptual or pre-solicitation phase—ideally within tactical aviation, advanced unmanned systems, or next-generation combat air initiatives. The position serves as the primary technical interface between Shield AI and European government and industry partners, shaping requirements, ensuring exportability, and aligning X-BAT’s roadmap with NATO and allied mission needs.

Requirements

• 5+ years in technical sales, capture, or engineering roles in European defense or aerospace markets.
• Proven experience supporting or capturing programs with European MODs, NATO, or multinational industry teams.
• Strong presentation and technical storytelling skills for diverse audiences—from engineers to senior defense officials.
• Experience with Group 5 UAS, tactical aircraft, or combat air teaming concepts.
• Familiarity with European export control frameworks and transatlantic defense cooperation.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or applied science; strong systems-level understanding of aircraft design and mission integration.
• U.S. security clearance (or ability to obtain) and eligibility for international travel and engagements.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with European primes (BAE Systems, Airbus, Leonardo, Saab, Rheinmetall, etc.) or NATO programs.
• Background in coalition operations, multi-domain autonomy, or AI-enabled ISR systems.
• Knowledge of European Defence Agency (EDA), and other bilateral procurement frameworks.
• Advanced degree in engineering or business.
• Military, attaché, or liaison officer experience a plus.
• Willingness to travel frequently to Europe.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-sales and technical engagement activities with European defense ministries, OEMs, and industry partners.
• Collaborate with Business Development, Engineering, and Program Management to align system capabilities with European CONOPS, mission sets, and interoperability requirements.
• Support FMS/DCS capture efforts and early acquisition phases (AOAs, RFI responses, white papers, and cooperative research initiatives).
• Develop and present compelling technical narratives and product concepts for NATO-aligned missions (ISR, strike, autonomy integration).
• Build enduring relationships with customer engineering offices, defense attaches, and partner OEMs to guide product fit and technical validation.
• Assess regional market dynamics, export constraints, and competitor positioning to inform internal investment and roadmap decisions.
• Represent the broader Shield AI technology ecosystem across autonomy, AI pilots, and mission systems throughout the customer engagement lifecycle.

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits
• Equity

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees