Business Development Manager - Nordics
Shield AI · On-site
MeritLog read this listing from Shield AI's Lever job board and last checked it on September 13, 2026.
Source: the employer's Lever job board. Open the original listing for current details.
Job details
- Work model
- On-site
- Salary
- Not listed by source
- Location
- Oslo
What the role asks for
What you'd do
- Drive Strategic Capture: Identify, shape, and capture high-value opportunities across European next-gen airpower programs relevant to CCAs and autonomy.
- Own Regional Sales Pipeline: Lead the full business development lifecycle for X-BAT focused efforts, from customer engagement through proposal, negotiation, and contract award.
- Engage Key Stakeholders: Build and maintain trusted relationships with Ministries of Defence, defense primes, integrators, and NATO-related bodies.
- Shape Requirements & CONOPS: Influence customer requirements and future CCA CONOPS to align with Shield AI’s product offerings.
- Support Demonstrations & Campaigns: Lead Shield AI’s positioning and participation in regional flight demos, technical trials, and program pilots.
- Coordinate Cross-Functionally: Collaborate closely with engineering, product, legal, and program teams to align technical solutions with customer needs and delivery requirements.
- Inform Product Direction: Provide field intelligence to guide feature development, integration strategy, and roadmap priorities for Hivemind-enabled CCA solutions.
What they're asking for
- 15+ years in a relevant air force occupation, bringing understanding of relevant CONOPs and platform applications.Experience
- 8–10+ years of experience in defense acquisition, business development, sales, or strategy, ideally with a focus on air platforms or autonomy.ExperiencePreferred
- Strong track record of capturing and closing defense programs or tech insertions with European ministries of defence or multinational frameworks.Skill
- Understanding of next-gen air combat trends, including CCAs, MUM-T, and AI-enabled CONOPS.Skill
- Ability to credibly represent technically complex products to both strategic and operational-level audiences.Skill
- Familiarity with key European defense programs (e.g., FCAS/SCAF, Tempest/GCAP, Eurodrone) and regional acquisition pathways.Skill
- Willingness to travel extensively across Europe (30%).Skill
Parsed by MeritLog from the employer’s own posting. The full description follows below.
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. At Shield AI, we’re redefining the battlespace with autonomy-enabled airpower. As part of our global expansion, we’re looking for a bold and visionary Director of Business Development to lead strategic sales, customer engagement, and capture efforts for our X-BAT initiatives across the region. This is a high-impact role at the cutting edge of aerospace and defense innovation. You’ll be on the front lines, driving adoption and revenue for Shield AI’s X-BAT by engaging directly with top-tier defense stakeholders-military customers, industry primes, and government decision-makers. Your mission: position Shield AI as the go-to partner for next-generation air combat solutions in Europe. You’ll bring a rare mix of defense sales expertise, technical credibility, and a deep understanding of air domain CONOPS and acquisition frameworks. From identifying new opportunities to closing complex deals and launching early-stage programs, you’ll own the entire business development lifecycle. What you'll do: • Drive Strategic Capture: Identify, shape, and capture high-value opportunities across European next-gen airpower programs relevant to CCAs and autonomy. • Own Regional Sales Pipeline: Lead the full business development lifecycle for X-BAT focused efforts, from customer engagement through proposal, negotiation, and contract award. • Engage Key Stakeholders: Build and maintain trusted relationships with Ministries of Defence, defense primes, integrators, and NATO-related bodies. • Shape Requirements & CONOPS: Influence customer requirements and future CCA CONOPS to align with Shield AI’s product offerings. • Support Demonstrations & Campaigns: Lead Shield AI’s positioning and participation in regional flight demos, technical trials, and program pilots. • Coordinate Cross-Functionally: Collaborate closely with engineering, product, legal, and program teams to align technical solutions with customer needs and delivery requirements. • Inform Product Direction: Provide field intelligence to guide feature development, integration strategy, and roadmap priorities for Hivemind-enabled CCA solutions. Required qualifications: • 15+ years in a relevant air force occupation, bringing understanding of relevant CONOPs and platform applications. • 8–10+ years of experience in defense acquisition, business development, sales, or strategy, ideally with a focus on air platforms or autonomy. • Strong track record of capturing and closing defense programs or tech insertions with European ministries of defence or multinational frameworks. • Understanding of next-gen air combat trends, including CCAs, MUM-T, and AI-enabled CONOPS. • Ability to credibly represent technically complex products to both strategic and operational-level audiences. • Familiarity with key European defense programs (e.g., FCAS/SCAF, Tempest/GCAP, Eurodrone) and regional acquisition pathways. • Willingness to travel extensively across Europe (30%). 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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