Business Development Director – Middle East

About the role

Shield AI is seeking a visionary Business Development Director to lead strategic sales and capture efforts for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiatives across the Middle East. You will drive adoption of next‑generation autonomous air‑power solutions by engaging directly with defence ministries, industry primes and government decision‑makers.

Key responsibilities

• Identify, shape and capture high‑value opportunities in regional next‑gen air‑power programmes.
• Lead the full business development lifecycle from customer engagement through proposal, negotiation and contract award.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with ministries of defence, defence primes and integrators.
• Influence customer requirements and CONOPS to align with Shield AI’s product portfolio.
• Lead participation in regional flight demos, technical trials and program pilots.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, legal and program teams to ensure technical solutions meet customer needs.

Required profile

• 15+ years in a relevant air‑force occupation, preferably with operational fighter aircraft experience.
• 3–5+ years in defence acquisition, business development or sales focused on air platforms or autonomy.
• 5+ years working in the Middle East region, either operationally or from a defence business perspective.
• Proven track record of capturing and closing defence programmes with ministries of defence or multinational frameworks.
• Deep understanding of next‑gen air combat trends such as CCAs, MUM‑T and AI‑enabled CONOPS.