Shield AI is seeking a highly driven Materials Planning & Logistics Manager to lead supply planning, material readiness, inventory strategy, and execution for next-generation autonomous aircraft development programs and a new greenfield manufacturing facility. This role is critical in establishing the material flow, planning processes, warehouse operations, and logistics infrastructure required to successfully transition advanced products from development into scalable production.
The ideal candidate combines strong operational leadership with hands-on execution, thrives in fast-paced environments, and has experience building manufacturing and supply chain capabilities from the ground up. You will work cross-functionally with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Procurement, and Operations teams to ensure material availability supports aggressive development schedules and facility ramp objectives.
What you'll do:
- Lead material planning activities for development programs.
- Partner with Engineering, Program Management, and Procurement to develop and maintain accurate build plans that are aligned with program milestones.
- Manage the release of work to the production floor and KPIs to monitor performance.
- Identify long-lead material risks and implement mitigation strategies to protect schedule.
- Create and manage recovery schedules.
- Drive engineering change management processes to support rapid development and ECO implementation.
- Develop planning models that support rapid prototyping, design iteration, and low-rate initial production activities.
- Develop and implement scalable processes that support future production growth.
- Lead planning and logistics readiness activities for a new manufacturing facility.
- Design and implement warehouse, stockroom, and material flow processes from receiving through point-of-use consumption.
- Establish inventory control procedures, material storage standards, and transaction discipline.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Facilities teams to optimize material movement and operational efficiency.
- Create a culture focused on accountability, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and mission execution.
- Establish standard work and training programs.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration to solve complex challenges.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field.
- 5+ years of experience in materials planning, production control, logistics, inventory management, or supply chain operations.
- Experience supporting complex hardware development programs in aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, or advanced manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated experience implementing or scaling material planning and inventory management processes.
- Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and supply chain planning methodologies.
- Experience managing material readiness for new product introduction (NPI) and engineering development programs.
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment with evolving priorities.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience supporting greenfield manufacturing facility launches or major facility expansions.
- Aerospace, defense, unmanned systems, or advanced technology manufacturing experience.
- Experience with Oracle, SAP, Costpoint, or similar ERP platforms.
- APICS/ASCM certifications (CPIM, CSCP) or equivalent.
- Familiarity with ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and government contracting requirements.
- Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or operational excellence experience.
- Experience supporting production ramp and transition from development to rate manufacturing.
Why Shield AI:
At Shield AI, you'll help build technology that matters. You'll work alongside world-class engineers, operators, and innovators solving some of the most challenging problems in autonomy and national security. This is a unique opportunity to shape the foundation of a rapidly growing aerospace and defense company while helping bring revolutionary autonomous systems into operational service.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field.
- 5+ years experience in materials planning, production control, logistics, inventory management, or supply chain operations.
- Experience supporting complex hardware development programs in aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, or advanced manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated experience implementing or scaling material planning and inventory management processes.
- Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and supply chain planning methodologies.
- Experience managing material readiness for new product introduction (NPI) and engineering development programs.
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment with evolving priorities.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
- Experience supporting greenfield manufacturing facility launches or major facility expansions.
- Experience with Oracle, SAP, Costpoint, or similar ERP platforms.
- APICS/ASCM certifications (CPIM, CSCP) or equivalent.
- Familiarity with ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and government contracting requirements.
- Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or operational excellence experience.
- Experience supporting production ramp and transition from development to rate manufacturing.
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials describe excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage alongside a mental‑health EAP. Site perks such as an onsite gym in DC and a gym discount in San Diego support a health‑focused offering.
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Retirement Support — Careers materials highlight a 401(k) with company match as part of the standard package. A Total Rewards overview emphasizes retirement features within a broader, transparent compensation view.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Compensation for in‑demand technical and senior go‑to‑market roles is described as competitive, with visible engineering ranges and top‑end packages. This points to meaningful upside tied to role, level, and scarce skills.
Shield AI Insights
What We Do
At Shield AI, you won't wait years to see your work reach the field. You'll build hardware and software that operates in the real world right now, in the hands of the people who depend on it. Hivemind, our AI pilot, has been flying since 2018. It has flown more than 30 platforms, including an F-16, and it now sits under a U.S. Air Force production contract for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. When you write code or shape a system here, you contribute to technology with a proven flight record and a clear production future. V-BAT flies intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with an operational record that stretches from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific. It delivers eyes where they matter most, in the most demanding conditions on earth. The teams behind it watch their work get tested where the stakes are real. X-BAT takes its first flight this year. It's an AI-piloted fighter that needs no runway, built to operate where traditional aircraft can't. Join now and you help shape a program at its earliest, most formative stage. That's the kind of ground-floor work that defines a career. Do the most impactful work of your life, on problems that matter. Autonomy at this level asks a lot of you. You'll take on problems in perception, planning, and control that few teams anywhere are equipped to solve. You'll work across disciplines, from aerospace and robotics to machine learning and systems engineering, alongside people who hold themselves to an exacting standard and expect the same from you. Our mission is clear: protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. That purpose runs through every decision, every design review, and every deployment. It's why the work here carries a weight you can feel. Ready to join our mission? Explore our open roles and find where you fit.
Why Work With Us
Founded in 2015 by a former Navy SEAL, Shield AI builds AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft. Veterans aren't an afterthought here, they're at every level. It's why the work carries weight: AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft flying real missions, from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific, protecting service members and civilians.
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Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
