Lead, Enterprise Strategy and Operations (R6096)

Shield AI
San Diego, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with deep strategic and operational experience working in defense and aerospace industries.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a background in corporate strategy and experience in complex, regulated industries like defense or aerospace
    — “Experience or strong interest in complex, technical, or regulated industries (aerospace, defense, AI, or advanced manufacturing preferred).”
  • Individuals who have led cross-functional transformations in fast-paced technology environments
    — “Experience leading complex, cross-functional transformations in fast-paced, technology-driven environments”
  • Candidates with a proven ability to build financial models and assess investment risks and returns
    — “Assess TAM, margin structure, capital intensity, payback, and risk-adjusted returns.”

Things to consider

  • U.S. citizenship is mandatory due to security clearance requirements
    — “U.S. citizenship required (ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance).”
  • This role demands long-term strategic thinking and execution planning across multiple global markets
    — “With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in translating strategy into cross-functional execution with measurable KPIs
    — “Translate strategic priorities into cross-functional execution plans with defined KPIs and milestones.”
  • Demonstrate leadership in M&A integration with clear examples of governance and risk management
    — “Establish the integration operating model, including governance, decision rights, cross-functional cadences, KPI dashboards, and risk-escalation mechanisms.”
  • Emphasize financial modeling expertise with a focus on unit economics and scenario analysis
    — “Financial modeling and analytical capability (unit economics, forecasting, scenario analysis).”
  • Showcase ability to structure ambiguous problems and drive actionable insights
    — “Demonstrated ability to structure ambiguous problems and drive insight through analysis.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Support the multi-year strategic planning and annual operating strategy cycles.
  • Evaluate portfolio tradeoffs across platforms, software, hardware, and emerging growth vectors.
  • Build financial models and analytic frameworks for investment decisions.
  • Translate strategic priorities into cross-functional execution plans with defined KPIs and milestones.
  • Lead the planning and execution of integration efforts for acquisitions, strategic investments, and other inorganic growth initiatives.
Typical background
Min 12+ years of experience with Bachelors, 8+ with Masters, and 5+ with PhDMin 4+ years’ experience in a strategy consulting, corporate strategy or other high-rigor roles

Skills & requirements

Required

Strategic PlanningMarket AnalysisFinancial ModelingOperational ExecutionIntegration PlanningCross-functional CollaborationRisk ManagementDecision-making

Preferred

Aerospace, Defense, AI, Or Advanced Manufacturing Industry Knowledge

Stack & domain

Strategic PlanningFinancial ModelingAnalytical FrameworksIntegration PlanningExecution PlansKpisMilestonesOperating CadencesRoot Cause AnalysisSynergy RealizationProblem-solvingCommunicationCollaborationInfluenceLeadershipNegotiationStrategyOperationsFinanceDefense

About the role

Original posting from Shield AI via Lever

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. 

Job Description:

Owns the planning, coordination, and execution discipline required to convert acquisitions into realized strategic and operational value. Serves as the day-to-day integration lead across functional workstreams, while escalation authority and ultimate accountability remain with the executive sponsor or Head of Corporate Development.

What you'll do::

Capital Allocation & Business Case Rigor:

Build financial models and analytic frameworks for investment decisions (new platforms, manufacturing, international expansion).

Assess TAM, margin structure, capital intensity, payback, and risk‑adjusted returns.

Contribute to the development of enterprise‑wide capital allocation frameworks and governance processes.

Operationalization of Strategy:

Translate strategic priorities into cross‑functional execution plans with defined KPIs and milestones.

Lead the planning and execution of integration efforts for acquisitions, strategic investments, and other inorganic growth initiatives.

Track and report on progress through structured operating cadences (monthly and quarterly performance reviews).

Identify bottlenecks, analyze root causes, and recommend actionable solutions to sustain execution velocity.

M&A Integration:

  • Lead cross-functional M&A integration from diligence and pre-close planning through Day 1, Day 100, and business-as-usual transition.
  • Translate deal objectives into integrated workplans, governance, milestones, decision forums, and executive reporting.
  • Coordinate functional leaders to manage dependencies, resolve critical issues, and maintain business, customer, and mission continuity.
  • Partner with Finance and business leaders to validate, track, and realize synergy, capability, and operational-value targets.
  • Build repeatable integration playbooks, tools, and lessons learned to improve speed, rigor, and value capture across future transactions.

Required qualifications::

  • Min 6+ years of experience with Bachelors, 3+ with Masters.
  • Min 2+ years’ experience in a strategy consulting, corporate strategy or other high‑rigor roles.
  • Strong analytical and conceptual problem‑solving abilities.
  • Experience leading complex, cross-functional transformations in fast-paced, technology-driven environments
  • Demonstrated ability to structure ambiguous problems and drive insight through analysis.
  • Financial modeling and analytical capability (unit economics, forecasting, scenario analysis).
  • Experience or strong interest in complex, technical, or regulated industries (aerospace, defense, AI, or advanced manufacturing preferred).
  • Ability to work collaboratively across teams and influence senior stakeholders.
  • U.S. citizenship required (ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance).

#LI-KC5

#LE

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Source: Shield AI careers (Lever)

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