Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Director of Field Marketing, Europe will establish and scale Shield AI’s field marketing function across Europe, with responsibility for supporting priority market development and programs in Africa as needed.
This leader will build the strategy, operating model, processes, and team required to deepen engagement with strategic government, defense, military, and industry stakeholders; accelerate priority opportunities; and create measurable pipeline impact.
This is a player-coach role in a high-growth environment. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable setting regional strategy and executing programs in the field. They thrive in ambiguity, can build new capabilities from the ground up, and adapt quickly as Shield AI expands its international go-to-market presence.
Based in London, this role will work closely with regional Growth, Business Development, Capture, Sales, Communications, and product teams. It will require regular travel across Europe and periodic travel to Africa.
What You'll Do
- Lead and scale field marketing across Europe, aligned closely with Shield AI’s regional Go-to-Market, Growth, Business Development, Capture, and Sales priorities.
- Develop the regional field marketing strategy for priority European defense, government, military, and industry accounts, while supporting select opportunities and events in Africa.
- Build and institutionalize field marketing as a disciplined, account-led, revenue-aligned function within a fast-growing global organization.
- Develop and execute account-based marketing strategies for priority accounts, mapping buying groups and orchestrating multi-touch engagement across executive briefings, targeted events, customer programs, partner activity, and integrated campaigns.
- Build engagement strategies tailored to key defense and government stakeholders, including senior military leaders, defense ministry officials, program leaders, acquisition teams, operational commanders, technical evaluators, and industry partners.
- Own the strategy and execution for major European defense, aerospace, autonomy, and security events, prioritizing high-value account engagement, executive meetings, and opportunity progression over brand presence alone.
- Establish event and program plans that align with regional procurement cycles, defense modernization priorities, budget timing, acquisition pathways, and capture strategies.
- Partner with regional Go-to-Market teams to create and execute targeted account-based events and programs that generate new pipeline, advance existing opportunities, and deepen executive relationships.
- Build and lead a high-performing Europe field marketing team while remaining hands-on with agencies, vendors, contracts, logistics, event production, and program delivery.
- Create repeatable regional planning, intake, measurement, and reporting processes that enable disciplined prioritization across markets, accounts, events, and campaigns.
- Establish KPIs that reflect complex defense sales cycles, including account penetration, stakeholder engagement depth, executive meeting quality, opportunity creation, pipeline influence, opportunity acceleration, and program return on investment.
- Ensure programs reflect Shield AI’s brand, strategic narrative, and market position while adapting messaging and experiences appropriately for local markets and audiences.
- Bring creativity, structure, sound judgment, and adaptability to an evolving environment where new international capabilities are being built in real time.
Required Qualifications
- 12 + years of experience in field marketing, demand generation, account-based marketing, or integrated marketing roles.
- Demonstrated success marketing into European government, defense, military, aerospace, national security, or complex public-sector accounts.
- Strong understanding of European defense and government buying environments, including long sales cycles, multi-year programs, procurement processes, and multi-stakeholder acquisition decisions.
- Experience developing and executing account-based marketing strategies within complex enterprise, government, or defense accounts.
- Credibility engaging senior military leaders, government officials, defense program leaders, acquisition stakeholders, and executive-level industry partners.
- Proven experience leading teams while also operating as a hands-on builder and operator.
- Experience planning and delivering high-impact executive engagement programs, strategic customer events, trade shows, and integrated field campaigns.
- Strong cross-functional partnership skills with Sales, Business Development, Capture, Growth, Communications, Product, and regional leadership teams.
- Ability to operate effectively across multiple European markets, cultures, and stakeholder groups.
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly across Europe and periodically to Africa.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Additional European languages are a plus.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where priorities shift and structure is still being developed.
Our international teammates receive a comprehensive total rewards package aligned to your country office location. For full details on compensation and benefits, please consult your talent acquisition partner.
