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.
What youll do:
The Strategic Capture Director/Senior Director - USMC will lead the development and execution of Shield AI’s long-term business development and capture strategy focused on the United States Marine Corps.
This individual will drive Shield AI’s engagement and alignment with enterprise-level defense priorities, modernization initiatives, and Marine Corps transformation efforts — shaping strategic growth opportunities that advance the company’s impact across the joint force.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive USMC capture strategy integrating all SAI products.
• Identify, qualify, and prioritize strategic opportunities aligned with USMC enterprise priorities.
• Establish and maintain trusted relationships with senior leaders across USMC — including key stakeholders within HQMC, the relevant Navy acquisition offices, the Deputy Commandant -Aviation, and other critical and influential Marine Corps headquarters.
• Serve as Shield AI’s principal interface for enterprise-level USMC engagements, ensuring a unified message and coordinated strategy.
• Anticipate and interpret policy, budget, and technology priorities emerging from HQMC translating them into actionable capture strategies and investment focus areas while supporting the teams execution of service-focused capture.
• Shape and influence Marine Corps concepts, roadmaps, and acquisition approaches that define future autonomy, AI, and unmanned systems adoption.
Measures of success (First 6–12 Months):
• Established relationships with relevant operational commands, requirements developers, and acquisition offices
• Create/update existing capture plan and qualify programmed resource streams for Shield AI products in line with operational force needs
• Influence the production of future requirements and solicitations favoring Shield AI product offerings
Required qualifications:
• 10+ years of experience in business development, strategy, or capture within the Department of War ecosystem, with a focus on USMC enterprise-level engagements.
• Deep understanding of USMC organizational structures, acquisition systems, and decision-making processes at the Secretariat and Joint levels.
• Demonstrated success leading major captures ($50M+ value) or shaping large-scale defense initiatives through the full business development lifecycle.
• Proven ability to influence and communicate effectively with senior USMC stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate across technical, operational, and policy teams.
• Active Secret clearance (Top Secret preferred).
Preferred qualifications:
• Experience with emerging technologies in autonomy, artificial intelligence (AI), command and control (C2), unmanned systems (UAS), or ISR.
• Prior military, government, or industry experience supporting USMC efforts.
• Advanced degree in business, public policy, engineering, or a related field.