Director of Business Development, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (Northeast Asia)

About the role

Shield AI is a venture‑backed defense‑tech company developing autonomous air systems. The Director of Business Development for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) in Northeast Asia will lead strategic sales, capture, and customer engagement across the region, positioning Shield AI as the partner of choice for next‑generation air combat solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Drive strategic capture by identifying, shaping, and securing high‑value next‑gen airpower opportunities across Northeast Asia relevant to CCAs and autonomy.
• Lead the regional sales pipeline, managing the full business development lifecycle from engagement through proposal, negotiation, and contract award.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Ministries of Defence, defence primes, integrators, and NATO‑related bodies.
• Influence customer requirements and future CCA CONOPS to align with Shield AI’s product offerings.
• Lead Shield AI’s participation in regional flight demos, technical trials, and program pilots.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, product, legal, and program teams to align technical solutions with customer needs.
• Provide field intelligence to guide feature development, integration strategy, and roadmap priorities for Hivemind‑enabled CCA solutions.

Required profile

• 15+ years in a relevant air force occupation, preferably with operational experience flying tactical fighter aircraft and a strong technical background.
• 3–5+ years in defense acquisition, business development, sales, or strategy, ideally focused on air platforms or autonomy.
• 5+ years experience in the Northeast Asia region, either operationally or from a defence business perspective.
• Proven track record of capturing and closing defence programmes or technology insertions with ministries of defence or multinational frameworks.
• Deep understanding of next‑gen air combat trends, including CCAs, MUM‑T, and AI‑enabled CONOPS.
• Ability to represent technically complex products to strategic and operational‑level audiences.
• Familiarity with regional acquisition pathways and willingness to live in Northeast Asia and travel 30–50% across the region.