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:
You are a strategic pricing professional who thrives in fast-paced, highly collaborative environments where accuracy, compliance, and business impact matter. This is not simply a proposal support role—it’s about shaping competitive pricing strategies that directly influence critical defense programs and long-term business growth.
As a Lead Pricing Analyst, you will independently lead cost and price proposal development for government and commercial opportunities of varying size and complexity. You will partner cross-functionally across Finance, Contracts, Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Business Development to develop compliant, data-driven pricing strategies that balance competitiveness, profitability, and execution risk.
What you'll do:
Lead & Deliver
Lead development of compliant cost and price proposals for government RFPs and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) opportunities.
Build detailed pricing models, labor estimates, BOM analyses, and supporting cost narratives.
Perform margin analysis and profitability assessments aligned to organizational targets and pricing strategy.
Develop and maintain cost volumes and supporting documentation for internal reviews and customer submissions.
Ensure pricing submissions comply with FAR, DFARS, CAS, and internal financial policies.
Support pricing reviews, fact-finding activities, and audit readiness as required.
Strategize & Collaborate
Partner cross-functionally with Business Development, Contracts, Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, Accounting, and FP&A to gather inputs and align proposal assumptions.
Identify pricing risks, opportunities, assumptions, and mitigation strategies throughout the proposal lifecycle.
Support competitive positioning strategies, labor planning, indirect rate considerations, and cost realism analysis.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that streamline pricing workflows, templates, and financial modeling tools.
Help shape scalable pricing processes that improve proposal quality, speed, and operational efficiency.
Impact
Your work directly supports mission-critical autonomous systems used by U.S. and allied defense organizations worldwide. You will influence high-visibility proposals, help shape strategic pricing decisions, and improve the financial rigor behind major business opportunities across Shield AI.
Required qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
5–9 years of relevant experience in pricing, finance, government contracting, or proposal analysis.
Minimum 2+ years of direct experience supporting government contract pricing and proposal development.
Strong understanding of FAR, DFARS, CAS, and government contracting compliance requirements.
Experience supporting Fixed Price, Cost Reimbursable, and Time & Materials (T&M) contract types.
Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills with strong attention to detail and analytical rigor.
Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic environment.
Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, and a continuous improvement mindset.
Preferred qualifications:
Experience with Deltek Costpoint or similar ERP/project accounting systems.
Experience supporting DoD, aerospace, or defense proposal environments.
Knowledge of indirect rate structures, including overhead, G&A, and fringe calculations.
Experience supporting both sole-source and competitive proposal strategies.
Familiarity with proposal management tools and integrated project planning processes.
Active U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.
Who you are:
Self-starter who operates effectively with limited oversight.
Calm, collaborative, and solutions-oriented under pressure.
Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and ownership mentality.
Strategic thinker who balances compliance, competitiveness, and business objectives.
Comfortable navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities in high-growth environments.
Committed to teamwork, integrity, accountability, and continuous learning.
Tools you'll use:
Microsoft Excel (advanced financial modeling and pricing analysis)
Deltek Costpoint or equivalent ERP/project accounting systems
Proposal pricing templates and cost modeling tools
Government compliance frameworks (FAR, DFARS, CAS)
Cross-functional planning and collaboration tools
Why join us:
Support cutting-edge autonomous defense technology programs with real-world mission impact.
Influence strategic pricing decisions tied to high-value growth opportunities.
Collaborate with highly driven, mission-focused teams across the organization.
Help shape and improve pricing operations within a rapidly scaling defense technology company.
