Senior Director of Business Development – Middle East

About the role

Shield AI is seeking a senior leader to drive its Middle East growth strategy for an advanced autonomy ecosystem that includes X‑BAT, V‑BAT, ViDAR and Hivemind. Reporting to the VP of International Business & Strategy, you will shape regional go‑to‑market plans, build a high‑performing team and secure multi‑year defense contracts.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the Middle East go‑to‑market strategy (excluding KSA) for all Shield AI products.
• Own annual order targets, develop a multi‑year pipeline and achieve order growth.
• Lead end‑to‑end capture activities, from early engagement through contract award and follow‑on expansion.
• Engage senior military, government and industry stakeholders across the region.
• Provide market and customer intelligence to influence product roadmap and international strategy.
• Collaborate with product, legal, export compliance and operations teams.
• Structure and manage local partnerships, prime contracts and offset strategies.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in defense, national security or aerospace within the Middle East.
• Established relationships with government and military customers.
• Proven track record of closing complex defense programs, preferably across hardware and software.
• Fluency in Arabic is strongly preferred.
• Ability to operate with high autonomy and ownership.

Required skills

• Deep knowledge of defense procurement processes and regulations.
• Strategic planning and execution capabilities.
• Strong negotiation and partnership management skills.