Join a high-impact quality engineering team driving reliability, validation, and execution excellence across next-generation autonomous systems. This role partners across engineering, test, manufacturing, and program leadership to ensure quality objectives are embedded throughout the product lifecycle. You will lead cross-functional quality initiatives by managing validation efforts, driving issue resolution, tracking technical risk, and improving engineering execution through data-driven program management.
We are seeking a Quality Engineering Technical Program Manager (TPM) with experience leading complex hardware or aerospace quality programs, including validation planning, root cause analysis, reliability tracking, and cross-functional execution.
What you'll do:
- Lead cross-functional quality engineering programs spanning validation, integration, manufacturing readiness, and field reliability
- Drive issue triage, root cause investigations, corrective actions, and closure tracking for system-level failures
- Develop and manage quality plans, schedules, metrics, and risk tracking across engineering teams
- Coordinate verification and validation activities across hardware, software, manufacturing, and test organizations
- Partner with engineering leadership to improve release readiness, defect reduction, and development processes
- Analyze quality and reliability trends to identify systemic issues and improve product performance
Required qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience in technical program management, quality engineering, systems engineering, or validation leadership in complex hardware or aerospace environments
- Strong understanding of root cause analysis, corrective actions, and reliability tracking
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs across engineering, manufacturing, and test organizations
- Experience managing technical risk, program dependencies, and execution tradeoffs in fast-paced development programs
- Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to drive alignment and accountability across teams
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience supporting aerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems programs
- Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or regulated engineering environments
- Experience with reliability testing, systems integration, or manufacturing quality
- Experience using data and automation tools such as Python, SQL, Jira, Power BI, or Tableau to improve quality visibility and execution
Skills Required
- 3+ years of experience in technical program management, quality engineering, systems engineering, or validation leadership in complex hardware or aerospace environments
- Strong understanding of root cause analysis, corrective actions, and reliability tracking
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs across engineering, manufacturing, and test organizations
- Experience managing technical risk, program dependencies, and execution tradeoffs in fast-paced development programs
- Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to drive alignment and accountability across teams
- Experience supporting aerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems programs
- Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or regulated engineering environments
- Experience with reliability testing, systems integration, or manufacturing quality
- Experience using data and automation tools such as Python, SQL, Jira, Power BI, or Tableau to improve quality visibility and execution
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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Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
