At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic engagement across Europe & Africa, building relationships and identifying new business opportunities.
- Company: Join Shield AI, a cutting-edge defence tech company on a mission to protect lives with AI.
- Benefits: Be part of a pioneering team with competitive rewards and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Opportunity to travel and engage with key decision-makers across Europe & Africa.
- Why this job: Shape the future of defence technology while collaborating with top-tier professionals in an entrepreneurial environment.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in government, defence, or tech with strong stakeholder relationship skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Founded in 2015, 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 and V‑BAT and X‑BAT aircraft.
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
Follow Shield AI on Linked In, X, Instagram, and You Tube.
About Shield AI
Shield AI is a venture‑backed defence technology company building the world’s best AI pilot and next‑generation autonomous aircraft.
Founded in 2015, Shield AI’s mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.
With a recent valuation of approximately $12.7B, Shield AI develops autonomy software, unmanned aircraft systems, and AI‑enabled ISR capabilities that actively support defence and security operations worldwide.
Shield AI works side‑by‑side with military and government customers to solve complex operational challenges in some of the world’s most demanding environments.
The company’s products, including V‑BAT, X‑BAT, Hivemind autonomy software, and advanced mission systems are designed to deliver operational advantage while reducing risk to human operators.
Shield AI believes the greatest victory requires no war.
Job Description
The Senior Director of Strategic Engagement for Europe & Africa is a senior regional leader responsible for advancing Shield AI’s strategic position across Europe & Africa through high‑value external engagement, relationship development, market insight, and business enablement.
This role works across the regional business development organization to expand access to senior stakeholders, strengthen Shield AI’s brand, inform regional strategy, and support the pursuit of new business opportunities across the company’s technology portfolio.
This position operates at the intersection of business development, government relations, strategic communications, and executive relationship management.
The Senior Director of Strategic Engagement does not own an individual sales quota but is expected to contribute meaningfully to team success through pipeline generation, closed bookings, opportunity shaping, senior‑level access, and the quality and frequency of external engagements.
Responsibilities
- Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior defense, government, diplomatic, political, and industry stakeholders across Europe & Africa to increase Shield AI’s strategic access and long‑term market position.
- Create opportunities for the regional business development team by opening doors with key decision‑makers, facilitating senior introductions, and helping position Shield AI in priority accounts, markets, and partner ecosystems.
- Represent Shield AI at external engagements such as conferences, panels, roundtables, executive meetings, and government or industry forums, strengthening the company’s visibility, credibility, and thought leadership in the region.
- Identify and help shape new business opportunities by surfacing customer priorities, partnership pathways, and regional developments that can influence pipeline creation and long‑term growth.
- Advise the Shield AI executive team, fellow business development leaders, and other internal leaders on regional strategy by bringing forward actionable insight on market dynamics, stakeholder sentiment, policy context, and competitive positioning.
- Partner closely with regional business development leaders and cross‑functional teams to align external engagement activity with campaign priorities, product positioning, and broader market expansion efforts.
- Help address complex or sensitive customer, partner, and market challenges by applying sound judgment, senior presence, and strategic problem‑solving to move critical initiatives forward.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of experience in government, diplomacy, defense, aerospace, national security, international affairs, or advanced technology business development or strategic engagement roles.
- Demonstrated success working with senior government, military, diplomatic, or industry stakeholders in complex international environments.
- Strong understanding of the defense, security, or public‑sector landscape in Europe and/or Africa, including the importance of stakeholder relationships, market access, and institutional decision‑making.
- Proven ability to influence outcomes without direct authority through credibility, judgment, communication, and relationship management.
- Excellent executive communication and presentation skills, including the ability to represent an organization effectively in high‑profile external settings.
- Experience operating cross‑functionally and supporting strategic initiatives across business development, partnerships, product, and leadership teams.
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently across Europe & Africa to support customer, partner, and industry engagement.
- Experience serving as a public‑facing representative for an organization in policy, defense, diplomatic, or international business settings.
- Established network across relevant defense, government, diplomatic, and industrial stakeholders in Europe & Africa.
- Experience supporting international market expansion, strategic partnerships, or regional growth initiatives in defense or dual‑use technology sectors.
- Deep familiarity with AI, autonomy, unmanned systems, aerospace, or related defense technology markets.
- Advanced degree in international affairs, public policy, business, engineering, or a related field.
Benefits
Help build the defining defence technology company of this century.
Work at the forefront of AI, autonomy, and next‑generation defence systems.
Operate in a highly entrepreneurial and mission‑driven environment.
Make a direct impact on international growth and strategic defence partnerships.
Collaborate with exceptional teams solving some of the world’s most complex operational challenges.
Our international teammates receive a comprehensive total rewards package aligned to your country office location.
For full details on compensation and benefits, please consult your talent acquisition partner.
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director of Strategic Engagement in London
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like shieldai!
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Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Senior Director of Strategic Engagement position at shieldai via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director of Strategic Engagement in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at shieldai.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to shieldai’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at shieldai
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to shieldai. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at shieldai. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to shieldai.
