# Senior Staff Field Solutions Engineer

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Dallas, TX
**Role:** Sales Engineering
**Salary:** $210k – $310k/yr
**Experience:** 10+ years
**Skills:** Technical Sales, Capture Management, Program Management, Defense Procurement, Tactical Aircraft, Cca, Aca, Group 4/5 Uas, Conops, Mission Engineering, Proposal Development, Rfi Response, White Papers, Systems Engineering, Stakeholder Engagement
**Posted:** 2026-07-03

> Senior technical lead supporting pre-sales, capture, and Go-To-Market for Shield AI's X-BAT tactical aircraft platform. Bridges operational customer requirements with product roadmap through proposals, briefings, and cross-functional coordination in the defense sector.

## Job Description

## What you'll do
- Lead X-BAT technical capture efforts for US Domestic opportunities, ensuring solutions are technically sound, feasible, and aligned with Shield AI’s product roadmap.
- Capture efforts will focus on Aircraft, but will require familiarity with the entire Shield AI Product suite.
- Manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, including customer engagements, pre-sales technical support, proposal contributions, and solution development.
- Develop and execute technical strategies that result in high-quality, compliant, and compelling proposals to maximize win probability.
- Serve as the primary technical lead for Go To Market (GTM) engagements, interfacing cross-functionally with BD, BD Operations, Engineering, Operations, Program Management, and Product Management to ensure customer needs are met.
- Manage technical content for proposals, requests for information (RFIs), white papers, and capability briefs, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and compliance.
- Support early-phase acquisition activities (concept notes, requirements drafts, unsolicited proposals).
- Shape early operational concepts aligned to X-BAT capabilities.
- Support BD and Account Executives by becoming a Subject Matter Expert in Shield AI products, providing technical expertise in customer engagements, capability briefings, and solution discussions to drive successful sales outcomes.
- Act as a liaison between BD and Engineering, ensuring that new customer requests are technically feasible and align with product capabilities, timelines, and roadmaps.
- Contribute to the technical documentation repository, maintaining capability briefs, specifications, FAQs, and other sales collateral for internal and external use.
- Provide training and mentorship to BD teams on technical aspects of Shield AI’s solutions, enabling them to articulate our value proposition confidently.
- Support competitive analysis and market intelligence specific to the US tactical aircraft market, ensuring the BD team remains informed on industry trends and competitor capabilities.
- Contribute to process improvement efforts, leveraging lessons learned from customer engagements to refine BD workflows and technical capture strategies.
- Analyze the unique operational and environmental factors of the assigned region, producing high-impact white papers and briefs that inform the product roadmap and drive solutions aligned to customer mission needs.

## Required qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in technical sales, capture, engineering, or program management within defense or aerospace industries.
- Demonstrated familiarity with US Department of War procurement processes and military force structures.
- Prior experience at a major defense prime (US OEM or equivalent) supporting tactical aircraft, CCA/ACA, or Group 4/5 UAS programs.
- Experience interfacing with government or military acquisition stakeholders.
- Strong systems-level understanding of aircraft design tradeoffs, operational CONOPS, and mission-based engineering.
- Proven ability to translate technical concepts into compelling narratives for senior stakeholders.
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, applied science, or related technical discipline.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment.

## Nice-to-haves
- Experience supporting defense sales or industrial partnerships.
- Background in maintenance / sustainment on combat aircraft and/or in mission systems integration.
- Experience contributing to early-phase design or conceptual aircraft programs.
- Prior military service experience.
- Advanced degree in engineering, aerospace, systems engineering, or business.
- 5+ years of experience in a presales/solutions engineering role.
- 3+ years of experience working in a startup environment.
- Demonstrated understanding of specific DoW operational scenarios and systems.

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