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.
Job Description:
We build advanced autonomous systems for defense markets—complex hardware and software products that demand world-class financial modeling, rigorous strategic analysis, and the ability to turn complexity into clarity.
We seek a Senior Strategic Finance Lead with deep Aerospace & Defense (A&D) experience, a strong strategic or corporate finance background in a publicly traded company, and a proven track record architecting and owning long-range financial models. You will serve as the analytical engine of Corporate Finance: designing the company’s fully integrated long-range three‑statement and unit economics model, driving enterprise-level financial strategy, and producing investor-grade outputs that shape decisions at the C-suite, Board, and ultimately public investors.
Candidates must bring elite modeling expertise (IB/PE/HF/Equity Research), mastery of complex HW/SW unit economics, and comfort operating in a fast-paced, high‑growth environment.
What you'll do:
Own and Build the Strategic Financial Model
Architect and maintain a fully integrated, scalable, three‑statement model grounded in unit economics, operational drivers, and industry benchmarks.
Lead the Long Range Plan (LRP), including scenario modeling, sensitivities, and valuation frameworks.
Translate production ramps, R&D investments, contract timing, government milestones, and GTM strategy directly into financial outcomes.
Deliver investor-grade outputs including valuations, strategic insights, and Board-ready narratives.
Maintain a forward-looking view of risks, opportunities, capital needs, and strategic inflection points.
Digitize & Scale Modeling Infrastructure
Partner with data engineering/systems teams to evolve modeling from Excel into modern cloud-based planning tools.
Design modular, scalable model architectures; use Excel only where it provides meaningful analytical leverage.
Integrate automation and analytics to improve clarity, reduce manual work, and increase decision velocity.
Analyze the Business Like an Investor
Benchmark peers across defense, autonomy, robotics, aerospace, and industrial tech.
Build competitor profiles, KPI benchmarks, and market analyses that inform strategy.
Develop a point of view on unit economics, efficiency, scale, profitability, and capital allocation.
Support M&A modeling, valuation, synergy analysis, and diligence.
Provide strategic insights that go beyond the numbers.
Lead Cash Flow & Liquidity Modeling
Build rolling cash flow forecasts across working capital, inventory, milestone payments, production cycles, and CapEx.
Model government contract payment timing, production curves, and program cash profiles.
Identify liquidity risks early and support capital allocation and financing strategies.
Partner Across the Company
Work closely with the VP FP&A, CFO, CEO, and senior leaders on forward-looking financial strategy.
Translate engineering, program, and operations plans into financial impacts.
Connect short-term forecasting with the long-range plan.
Present insights that accelerate execution and elevate decision quality.
Take full accountability for forecast accuracy, improving results with each actualized quarter.
Required qualifications:
- 8–10 years of experience, including significant time in investment banking, PE, hedge funds, or equity research.
- Direct strategic finance leadership experience in a publicly traded company.
- Deep A&D industry exposure (defense, aerospace, autonomy, robotics, industria