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Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company developing intelligent autonomy systems, including Hivemind software, autonomous aircraft (V-BAT, X-BAT), and simulation technologies. The company operates globally with offices across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
You will serve as the Technical Program Manager responsible for the successful delivery and integration of Hivemind Enterprise autonomy software onto next-generation military aircraft platforms for Armed Services and OEM customers. This is a high-impact role bridging software development and hardware integration across complex defense programs.
Key responsibilities include:
• Lead end-to-end program delivery from concept through production and operational deployment, managing scope, schedules, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Operate as an embedded partner to aircraft engineering teams, ensuring Hivemind software development aligns with hardware integration, manufacturing constraints, lab availability, and flight test schedules.
• Work with product managers, engineering leads, operations, and executive leadership to define clear program objectives tied to mission impact, customer success, strategic growth, and technical performance.
• Facilitate rigorous, fast, and effective technical and programmatic decision-making across cross-functional teams. Identify risks, challenge assumptions, and drive alignment without designing systems directly.
• Coordinate system integration activities across labs, ground test, and flight test operations. Drive readiness reviews, integration milestones, and closure of technical dependencies.
• Identify bottlenecks, critical path risks, and schedule delays; drive mitigation strategies and conduct critical path analyses. Support execution through Gate Reviews, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
• Ensure stakeholders (internal and external) remain aligned on status, milestones, priorities, risks, and technical challenges through well-organized, effective meetings and consistent communication.
• Support development of technical and operational documentation, engineering change orders, work instructions, service bulletins, and integration documentation.
• Create an environment where teams have clarity, tools, accountability, and support. Escalate issues quickly, streamline processes, and foster a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.
• Drive accurate tracking and reporting of program financials, resources, schedules, integration status, and customer deliverables.
• Support business development activities including proposals, RFIs, RFPs, technical evaluations, and strategic customer engagements.
• Travel up to 30% as required.
Requirements:
• Minimum 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 9 years with a Master's degree.
• Proven 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 at completion.
• Exceptional customer communication and stakeholder management skills with ability to lead through influence across distributed teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and ability to drive execution with high standards and collaboration.
Preferred qualifications:
• Experience integrating autonomy or software systems onto defense platforms.
• Background 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.
