Shield AI is seeking an exceptional Program Director to lead the development, production, integration, and operational deployment of next-generation weapon systems. This role serves as the senior program leader responsible for delivering complex defense programs from concept development through fielding, ensuring successful execution across engineering, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, test, customer engagement, and business growth activities.
The Program Director will provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of weapon system programs, driving alignment between technical execution, customer requirements, financial performance, and long-term business objectives. This role requires close coordination with distributed teams across engineering, manufacturing, operations, and government stakeholders to deliver mission-ready capabilities at scale.
The ideal candidate combines deep program leadership experience with a strong understanding of defense acquisition, weapons development, production operations, and customer engagement. You will be responsible for driving schedule, cost, technical performance, production readiness, operational outcomes, and customer satisfaction while helping shape the future of autonomous and intelligent defense systems.
What you'll do:
Lead Weapons Programs
Serve as the senior program leader responsible for the successful execution of weapon system development, production, integration, test, and deployment programs from concept through operational fielding.
Drive Cross-Functional Execution
Lead and coordinate activities across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, operations, flight test, business development, and customer organizations to ensure program objectives are achieved.
Establish Strategic Program Objectives
Partner with executive leadership, customers, engineering leaders, product management, and operations teams to define program objectives aligned to mission outcomes, customer success, strategic growth, financial performance, and technical excellence.
Program & Portfolio Management
Own development and execution of integrated program plans, including scope, schedules, milestones, budgets, resource allocation, staffing plans, risk management, and customer deliverables. Continuously balance customer priorities, technical risks, production constraints, and business objectives across multiple programs.
Customer & Stakeholder Leadership
Serve as the primary interface for customers, government stakeholders, and strategic partners. Build trusted relationships, manage expectations, communicate program status, and ensure successful execution of contractual commitments.
Production & Deployment Readiness
Lead readiness activities supporting manufacturing, qualification, integration, test, and operational deployment. Drive closure of technical, operational, and production dependencies required to achieve delivery commitments and fielding objectives.
Drive Program Performance
Identify critical path risks, execution bottlenecks, resource conflicts, and cost pressures. Develop and execute mitigation strategies to maintain program performance across schedule, budget, quality, and technical objectives.
Lead program reviews, executive reviews, customer reviews, Gate Reviews, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), Integrated Product Team (IPT) reviews, and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
Enable High-Quality Decision Making
Facilitate timely and effective technical, operational, and business decisions across cross-functional teams. Apply sufficient technical understanding to identify risks, challenge assumptions, evaluate tradeoffs, and drive alignment toward program success.
Communicate with Excellence
Establish a disciplined operating rhythm that provides visibility into program status, financial performance, risks, customer commitments, production readiness, and strategic priorities. Ensure stakeholders remain informed and aligned at all levels of the organization.
Drive Operational Excellence
Support continuous improvement initiatives that improve execution efficiency, scalability, quality, and predictability across development, production, and deployment activities.
Deliver Business Outcomes
Own program financial performance, resource planning, revenue forecasts, margin objectives, contract execution, and customer deliverables. Ensure programs meet operational and financial targets while maintaining high standards of technical excellence.
Support Growth & Strategic Initiatives
Support capture efforts, proposals, Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), strategic partnerships, customer engagements, and business development activities that expand Shield AI's weapons portfolio and market position.
Required qualifications:
- Typically requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 10 years and a Master's degree; or equivalent experience.
- Experience leading complex defense, aerospace, weapons, or advanced technology programs from development through production and operational deployment.
- Demonstrated success managing large cross-functional teams and delivering programs across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance objectives.
- Strong understanding of defense acquisition, systems development, manufacturing, test, and operational fielding.
- Experience managing program financials, contract execution, resource planning, and customer relationships.
- Experience leading Program Management Reviews (PMRs), Integrated Product Team (IPT) reviews, executive reviews, and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
- Exceptional communication, leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong analytical and strategic planning capabilities with the ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
- Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and ability to drive execution through influence and leadership.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience leading weapon system, missile, loitering munition, UAS, or autonomous system programs.
- Experience supporting programs for DoD, SOCOM, service laboratories, or defense prime contractors.
- Experience transitioning programs from development into production and sustainment.
- Familiarity with defense contracting, FAR/DFARS requirements, acquisition processes, and government program execution.
- PMP certification or equivalent program management credentials.
- Experience managing classified programs and customer engagements.
- Experience balancing aggressive schedules, technical innovation, and production scalability.
- Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret clearance.
Skills Required
- Minimum 12 years related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 10 years with a Master's degree; or equivalent experience.
- Experience leading complex defense, aerospace, weapons, or advanced technology programs from development through production and operational deployment.
- Demonstrated success managing large cross-functional teams and delivering programs across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance objectives.
- Strong understanding of defense acquisition, systems development, manufacturing, test, and operational fielding.
- Experience managing program financials, contract execution, resource planning, and customer relationships.
- Experience leading Program Management Reviews (PMRs), Integrated Product Team (IPT) reviews, executive reviews, and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
- Exceptional communication, leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong analytical and strategic planning capabilities and ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
- Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and ability to drive execution through influence and leadership.
- Experience leading weapon system, missile, loitering munition, UAS, or autonomous system programs.
- Experience supporting programs for DoD, SOCOM, service laboratories, or defense prime contractors.
- Experience transitioning programs from development into production and sustainment.
- Familiarity with defense contracting, FAR/DFARS requirements, acquisition processes, and government program execution.
- PMP certification or equivalent program management credentials.
- Experience managing classified programs and customer engagements.
- Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret clearance.
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
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.
Why Work With Us
What makes Shield AI special is our people. We unlock the power of autonomy, and in the face of overwhelming odds and challenges, we find ways to win and make a difference for our customers. We bring together software, AI, and aerospace engineering disciplines to deploy the most intelligent aviation capabilities in the world.
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Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
