Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. 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.

Job Description:

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.

Job Description:

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.

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Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

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. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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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.

Program Director, Weapons (R5206)