Shield AI Jobs

Technical Program Manager

Shield AI

Technical Program Manager

Posted An Hour Ago

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2 Locations

In-Office

Senior level

Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software

Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.

The Role

Lead delivery and aircraft integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software across complex defense programs. Own integrated plans, schedules, budgets, risks, technical performance, readiness reviews, flight-test coordination, customer deliverables, and cross-functional alignment from concept through production and deployment. Support customer engagements, proposals, and strategic autonomy initiatives while coordinating distributed engineering, operations, and executive stakeholders.

Summary Generated by Built In

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.

We are looking for an exceptional Sr Staff Technical Program Manager to lead the integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy stack onto next-generation aircraft platforms, guiding programs from concept through production and operational deployment.
You will drive alignment across hardware and software development activities, ensuring aircraft, autonomy software, and operational teams remain synchronized throughout the full product lifecycle. This role requires close coordination with distributed engineering teams across multiple offices globally.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical program management fundamentals with hands-on experience coordinating complex hardware/software integration efforts and customer facing program management. You will drive schedule, cost, technical performance, integration readiness, and operational outcomes while helping define the future of autonomous aviation.

What you'll do:

Lead Hivemind Enterprise Delivery

Serve as the program manager responsible for the successful delivery of Hivemind Enterprise software to Armed Services and OEM customers.
Serve as the program manager responsible for the successful integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software onto next-generation aircraft platforms.

Drive Hardware & Software Alignment

Operate as an embedded partner to aircraft engineering teams ensuring software development aligns with hardware integration, manufacturing, lab availability, and flight test schedules.

Establish Clear Objectives

Work closely with product managers, engineering leads, operations, and executive leadership to define clear program objectives tied to mission impact, customer success, strategic growth, financial outcomes, and technical performance.

Program & Project Management

Own development and execution of integrated project plans including scope, schedules, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and resource allocation. Continuously evaluate and rebalance customer priorities, technical risks, cost constraints, and schedule demands throughout the program.

Drive Timely, High-Quality Decisions

Facilitate rigorous, fast, and effective technical and programmatic decision-making across cross-functional teams. While not expected to design systems directly, you will possess sufficient technical depth to identify risks, challenge assumptions, and drive alignment.

Integration & Flight Test Readiness

Coordinate system integration activities across labs, ground test, and flight test operations. Drive readiness reviews, integration milestones, and closure of technical dependencies required to support successful aircraft integration and operational deployment.
Identify potential bottlenecks, critical path risks, and schedule delays, and drive mitigation strategies to achieve program milestones and delivery commitments. Conduct critical path analyses and support program execution through Gate Reviews, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and Estimates at Completion (EACs).

Communicate with Excellence

Drive a consistent cadence of well-organized, effective meetings, including preparation, facilitation, action tracking, and follow-up.
Ensure stakeholders (external and internal) remain aligned on status, milestones, priorities, risks, integration readiness, and technical challenges.

Drive Technical Execution

Support the development and refinement of technical and operational documentation, engineering change orders, work instructions, service bulletins, operational procedures, and integration documentation.

Empower Teams & Remove Obstacles

Create an environment where teams have the clarity, tools, accountability, and support needed to execute effectively. Escalate issues quickly, streamline processes, eliminate blockers, and foster a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement.

Deliver Outcomes

Drive accurate and timely tracking and reporting of program financials, resources, schedules, integration status, and customer deliverables.

Support Growth & Strategic Initiatives

Support business development activities related to current and future autonomy integration programs, including proposals, requests for information (RFIs), requests for proposals (RFPs), technical evaluations, and strategic customer engagements.

Required qualifications:

Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree
Experience leading complex cross-functional engineering programs from concept through production and operational deployment.
Experience in military aviation
Strong technical understanding of software-enabled systems, autonomy, aerospace systems, or complex integrated products.
Demonstrated success managing program execution across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance in fast-paced environments.
Experience with Program Management Reviews (PMRs), gate reviews, and estimates.
Exceptional customer communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to lead through influence across distributed teams.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments.
Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and ability to drive execution with high standards and collaboration.
Ability to travel up to 30%.

Preferred qualifications:

Experience integrating autonomy or software systems onto defense platforms.
Experience in software development, autonomy development, or systems engineering.
Experience managing clean-sheet defense or technology development programs.
PMP and/or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification.
Familiarity with MoD contracting, defense acquisition, or national security programs.
Experience balancing aggressive timelines with complex engineering constraints.

Total package details for U.S. based positions:

- Regular employee positions: Salary within range listed above + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

- Temporary employee positions: Hourly within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days

of employment)

- Interns/Military Fellows/Part-time not eligible for bonus, benefits or equity

Total package details for International positions which are roles based outside of the United States (where applicable):

- International premium, hardship differential, cost of living differential, living quarters allowance, foreign service transfer

allowance, equity, international benefits, visa assistance, and relocation assistance.

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Skills Required

Bachelor’s degree with at least 10 years of related experience, or a Master’s degree with at least 9 years of related experience
Experience leading complex cross-functional engineering programs from concept through production and operational deployment
Experience in military aviation
Strong technical understanding of software-enabled systems, autonomy, aerospace systems, or complex integrated products
Experience managing scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance in fast-paced environments
Experience with Program Management Reviews, gate reviews, and estimates
Exceptional customer communication and stakeholder management skills across distributed teams
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Ownership, accountability, execution focus, high standards, and collaboration
Ability to travel up to 30%
Experience integrating autonomy or software systems onto defense platforms
Experience in software development, autonomy development, or systems engineering
Experience managing clean-sheet defense or technology development programs
PMP and/or Certified Scrum Master certification
Familiarity with Ministry of Defence contracting, defense acquisition, or national security programs
Experience balancing aggressive timelines with complex engineering constraints

What the Team is Saying

Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights

Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as excellent, with dental/vision and mental‑health support, and ancillary protections like life and disability appearing in benefit summaries. The breadth and perceived affordability of coverage are highlighted as a standout component of the package.
Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is featured alongside enhanced maternity benefits, fertility and childcare support, and onsite resources such as a Mother’s Room. These elements are positioned as competitive and above the minimal baseline for the company’s stage.
Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is granted to all full‑time hires, with RSUs, double‑trigger tax timing, and tools to model scenarios (e.g., through Carta Tax). Communications also reference a transition from options to RSUs, reinforcing access and maturity of ownership programs.

Learn more about Shield AI's Compensation & Benefits →

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The Company

HQ: San Diego, CA

Year Founded: 2015

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.