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. Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. 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. 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. 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, robotics, software, and adjacent enterprise technology markets. Build targeted executive talent pipelines supporting immediate and anticipated leadership hiring needs. Execute searches across highly specialized software engineering disciplines, including Autonomy, Robotics, Perception, Planning, Controls, Embedded Software, Distributed Systems, Simulation, Machine Learning, Infrastructure, and related technical domains. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, hiring managers, and PX Business Partners across assigned functions. Develop deep knowledge of executive talent markets across autonomy, robotics, artificial intelligence,



machine learning, embedded software, and related software engineering disciplines. Partner with General Talent Sourcing to execute targeted market mapping, competitive research, and candidate identification strategies. Maintain accurate, timely candidate and pipeline information in applicant tracking and recruiting systems. Identify opportunities to improve recruiting efficiency, assessment quality, and stakeholder and candidate experience. Integrate AI and automation into recruiting workflows to improve speed, quality, and effectiveness throughout the executive search lifecycle. Experiment with emerging AI tools, evaluate their impact, and share successful practices across Talent Acquisition. Build trusted, collaborative relationships across Talent Acquisition, People Experience, Total Rewards, and business leadership. Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience. 8+ years of progressive executive recruiting or search experience, including independently managing complex senior leadership searches. Demonstrated experience recruiting VP+ and other senior technical executives across Autonomy, Robotics, Perception, Planning, Controls, Embedded Software, Distributed Systems, Simulation, Machine Learning, Infrastructure, or related software engineering disciplines. Experience recruiting senior technical leaders within aerospace, defense, artificial intelligence, autonomy, software engineering, or related technology industries. Proven ability to translate complex technical requirements into actionable recruiting and sourcing strategies across highly specialized software engineering disciplines. Proven ability to build credibility, advise, and influence senior-level hiring s

📌 Senior Recruitment Manager (Madrid)
🏢 shieldai
📍 Madrid