Senior Executive Recruiter - G&A (R6520)

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 shield. ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Job Description: We are seeking an intellectually curious, learning-agile, and strategic Senior Executive Recruiter to identify and attract exceptional leaders who will help shape Shield AI's future. As a fast-growing defense technology company, our hiring priorities evolve quickly, requiring adaptability, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate ambiguity while delivering results. Reporting to the Head of Executive Search, the Senior Executive Recruiter – Hivemind will independently lead complex senior leadership searches across Shield AI's Hivemind Autonomous Software business, identifying leaders responsible for developing and scaling next-generation autonomy and AI-powered software systems. This includes executive recruiting across Autonomy, Robotics, Perception, Planning, Controls, Embedded Software, Distributed Systems, Simulation, Machine Learning, Infrastructure, and other highly specialized software engineering disciplines. This senior individual contributor will own the full executive search lifecycle, from intake and market mapping through candidate assessment, offer negotiation, and close. The ideal candidate combines strong executive search fundamentals, business acumen, executive presence, operational rigor, and exceptional talent judgment.

Success requires quickly developing expertise across specialized technical disciplines, translating complex engineering requirements into effective recruiting strategies, building trusted relationships with senior leaders, and delivering high-quality hiring outcomes. You will partner closely with business leaders, People Experience (PX) Business Partners, and Talent Acquisition colleagues to develop targeted search strategies aligned with business priorities. Our Talent Acquisition team actively embraces AI and automation to accelerate research, improve decision-making, streamline execution, and create more capacity for high-value recruiting activities. We seek individuals who continuously identify innovative ways to improve executive search effectiveness. What you'll do: Executive Search Strategy & Execution - Independently manage complex executive and senior leadership searches from intake and position scoping through market mapping, assessment, offer negotiation, and acceptance. - Partner with senior leaders to define role requirements, success profiles, assessment criteria, search strategies, and hiring milestones. - Identify, engage, and cultivate relationships with high-caliber passive executive talent across aerospace and defense, AI, autonomy, software, enterprise technology, and other relevant markets. - Build targeted executive talent pipelines supporting immediate and anticipated leadership hiring needs. - Anticipate search challenges, adjust strategies, and maintain accountability for hiring outcomes. Executive Stakeholder Partnership - Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, hiring managers, and PX Business Partners across assigned functions. - Provide consultative guidance on talent availability, market dynamics, compensation expectations, and competitive positioning. - Establish consistent communication and reporting cadences to maintain stakeholder alignment, transparency, and accountability. - Influence hiring decisions through market intelligence, candidate insights, and evidence-based recommendations. - Proactively manage expectations, resolve obstacles, and navigate competing priorities constructively.