About the role
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. \n
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