Business Development Lead (Netherlands)

Join Shield AI, a leading company in the defense technology sector. As the Business Development Lead for the Netherlands, you will drive market growth, customer engagement, and business expansion. You will represent Shield AI's autonomy and aircraft portfolio, develop territory strategy, manage pipeline development, and lead end-to-end deal closure. This role requires strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, as well as a technical understanding of autonomous systems and defense technologies.

• Drive defence market growth, customer engagement, and business expansion across assigned markets in the Netherlands.
• Own and execute Shield AI’s go-to-market strategy across assigned markets, aligning territory activities with strategic growth priorities and customer mission requirements.
• Lead end-to-end deal closure, including account planning, customer shaping, competitive positioning, proposal leadership, negotiation, and contract close to meet or exceed carried sales quota.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently throughout the territory and internationally
• Experience operating across international defence, government, or regulated markets, including navigating complex stakeholder and procurement environments
• Technical aptitude and operational understanding of autonomous systems, ISR, mission systems, AI-enabled capabilities, or related defence technologies
• Based within the region, or willing to relocate to a strategic location within the assigned territory
• Demonstrated success identifying, shaping, and advancing complex opportunities involving long sales cycles, senior stakeholders, and technically differentiated solutions
• Strong executive presence and ability to build credibility with military, government, industry, and strategic partner stakeholders
• Fluency in English and regional languages relevant to the assigned market
• Typically requires 6+ years of experience in business development, capture, sales, strategic engagement, account management, or related customer-facing roles within defence, aerospace, national security, or advanced technology environments
• Strong communication, negotiation, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional, military, or operational experience preferred
• Experience with UAS, autonomy, ISR, mission systems, aerospace, or AI-enabled operational capabilities
• Existing relationships across defence ministries, military organizations, procurement authorities, or strategic industry partners within the assigned territory
• Experience supporting direct commercial sales, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), or international government procurement programs
• Prior military, operational defence, government, or national security experience