Senior Business Development Executive – Autonomy Specialist (India)

About the role

Shield AI is seeking a high‑performing Business Development / Account Executive to drive growth for Hivemind Autonomy across India, focusing on defence and government customers. The role involves identifying, shaping, and closing complex opportunities while building enduring customer relationships and executing disciplined capture strategies.

Key responsibilities

• Own and drive the full sales lifecycle for Hivemind opportunities across assigned accounts and territories.
• Develop and execute territory and capture strategies aligned with Shield AI’s long‑term plan.
• Identify, qualify, and shape new business opportunities based on customer missions, budgets, and acquisition pathways.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision‑makers, program offices, and influencers in defence and government.
• Lead proposal development in partnership with BD Operations and cross‑functional teams.
• Conduct competitive analysis and position Hivemind effectively in multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Solutions teams to translate customer needs into technical solutions.
• Manage deal progression with rigorous qualification, forecasting accuracy, and CRM hygiene.
• Represent Shield AI at industry events, conferences, and customer engagements to expand market presence.
• Communicate pipeline status, risks, and milestones to internal stakeholders and leadership.

Required profile

• 10–15+ years of business development, sales, or capture experience in technically complex domains such as AI/ML, autonomy, SaaS, aerospace or defence.
• Proven track record of owning and closing deals, especially within U.S. government or defence markets.
• Deep understanding of defence acquisition processes and government procurement lifecycle.
• Strong experience developing and executing capture strategies for complex opportunities.
• Technical aptitude to engage credibly with engineering, product, and operational stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Self‑motivated, results‑oriented and able to thrive in a fast‑paced environment.
• Bachelor’s degree required; fluency in English.