Program Manager (R4930)

The role

You will lead execution and operational maturity for global company-owned, company-operated unmanned aircraft system deployments that support contracted intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. You will be the link between flight operations, logistics, sustainment, subcontractors, finance, and customer stakeholders.

What you will do

• Deliver reliable program performance supporting the customer's mission.
• Collaborate, motivate, and lead stakeholders to deliver early, under budget, and with strong technical performance.
• Manage customer relationships and act as the key point of contact for the program.
• Balance shifting customer priorities for cost, schedule, and technical parameters.
• Provide hands-on management of all aspects of the program.
• Track and report budget, resource, and project metrics accurately and on time.
• Complete critical path analyses and evaluate ways to accelerate pace or mitigate risks.
• Identify bottlenecks or delays and drive efforts to keep projects on schedule.
• Partner with leadership on project prioritization and resource use.
• Lead a consistent cadence of well-run meetings, including preparation and follow-up.

Required qualifications

• 5+ years of program management experience for Department of Defense programs.
• Ability to run advanced multi-project programs in a largely self-directed manner.
• Ability to focus on long-term business objectives.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
• Experience with scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project or Smartsheet.
• Excellent leadership, time management, organization, and team management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written skills.
• Expert understanding of complex project financials.
• Alignment with Shield AI's values and leadership principles: accountability, trust, collaboration, and servant leadership.
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.

Nice to have

• Experience supporting unmanned aerial systems, aviation operations, ISR programs, or defense technology programs.
• Familiarity with aircraft sustainment, maintenance operations, or fleet management models.
• Experience managing subcontractors, external service providers, or distributed operational teams.
• Experience building scalable operational processes in startup or high-growth organizations.
• Active Secret security clearance.
• PMP certification or equivalent program management training.
• Undergraduate degree in engineering, business, or operations management.

Benefits

• Bonus.
• Benefits.
• Equity.
• Temporary employees receive a temporary benefits package after 60 days of employment.
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.

Before you apply

• Offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance is required.

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company that protects 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.