Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilot. Our autonomous systems, including V-BAT and Hivemind Enterprise, operate in the most contested environments in the world. As next-generation aircraft programs transition from development into production, operational agility and production discipline are critical to delivering mission-ready systems while enabling rapid innovation.
We are seeking a Senior Production Planner for Development Programs to drive production planning and execution for developmental and prototype aircraft builds. This role operates at the intersection of Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to ensure aircraft build schedules remain executable despite evolving designs, changing priorities, and material constraints.
Job Description:
The Senior Production Planner – Development Programs is responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing production plans for prototype and developmental aircraft programs. Unlike traditional production environments, this role must navigate incomplete engineering definition, evolving bills of material, shifting program priorities, and dynamic supply chain conditions while maintaining progress toward key build and flight test milestones.
You will serve as a critical coordination point between Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management to translate rapidly changing program requirements into actionable production plans.
What you'll do:
- Develop and maintain detailed production schedules for prototype aircraft builds, major assemblies, and integration activities
- Translate engineering release plans, build priorities, and program milestones into executable manufacturing schedules
- Release and manage work orders in support of aircraft builds, including builds with incomplete engineering definition or evolving configurations or bills of material
- Coordinate schedule adjustments resulting from engineering changes, design revisions, and shifting program priorities
- Monitor production progress and proactively identify risks to key build, integration, and flight test milestones
- Coordinate temporary planning structures and workarounds to enable manufacturing progress while maintaining configuration control
- Facilitate rapid schedule recovery plans when design, material, or technical issues affect build progress
- Partner closely with Supply Chain to align material availability with build requirements and timelines
- Support ERP/MRP system accuracy through effective planning and work order management
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field
- 5+ years of experience in production planning, manufacturing planning, production control, or supply chain operations
- Experience supporting complex hardware, aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, or other highly engineered products
- Experience working within ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Costpoint, or similar)
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, work order management, bills of material, and production scheduling
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and highly dynamic environment
- U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience supporting prototype, NPI (New Product Introduction), or developmental manufacturing programs
- Experience in UAV, aerospace, defense, or aircraft production environments
- Familiarity with engineering change management and configuration control processes
- APICS CPIM certification
Why Shield AI:
At Shield AI, prototype aircraft builds are where innovation becomes reality. Every developmental aircraft completed advances the future of autonomous aviation and accelerates mission capability for our customers.
This role sits at the center of that effort, helping transform evolving designs into flight-ready aircraft while building the production foundation for future scale.
If you are excited about solving complex manufacturing challenges and enabling next-generation autonomous aircraft programs, we want to hear from you.
Join us in building the world's best AI pilot.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field
- 5+ years experience in production planning, manufacturing planning, production control, or supply chain operations
- Experience supporting complex hardware, aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, or other highly engineered products
- Experience working within ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Costpoint, or similar)
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, work order management, bills of material, and production scheduling
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and highly dynamic environment
- U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance
- Experience supporting prototype, NPI, or developmental manufacturing programs
- Experience in UAV, aerospace, defense, or aircraft production environments
- Familiarity with engineering change management and configuration control processes
- APICS CPIM certification
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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Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
