Compensation Director, Aircraft Engineering and Manufacturing (R6270)

The role

This role leads the compensation strategy for Shield AI's Aircraft division, covering manufacturing, production, operations, supply chain, logistics, customer success and skilled trades. The person acts as the compensation advisor to Aircraft executives and owns the design of pay structures, analytics and compliance programs.

What you will do

• Develop and lead the compensation strategy for Aircraft manufacturing, production, operations, supply chain, logistics, customer success and skilled trades populations.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on manufacturing and operations compensation and shape long-term compensation philosophy and governance.
• Lead the design of compensation structures for large non-exempt employee populations, including wage structures, geographic differentials and shift premiums.
• Oversee market pricing using Radford, Mercer, WTW and specialized manufacturing surveys.
• Advise Aircraft executives on organization design, workforce investments, location strategy and talent acquisition with the Px Business Partner.
• Lead enterprise compensation analyses covering market competitiveness, pay equity, workforce cost modeling and incentive effectiveness.
• Present compensation recommendations to executive leadership with business rationale and risk assessments.
• Establish governance frameworks, policies and administration standards for manufacturing compensation programs.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state and local wage and hour regulations, working with Legal, Finance and People Operations.
• Coach and build compensation expertise across the People function.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business, Economics or a related field.
• 15+ years of progressive compensation experience, including significant leadership supporting manufacturing, production, operations or supply chain organizations.
• Deep expertise designing enterprise compensation strategies for large non-exempt employee populations.
• Extensive knowledge of wage and hour regulations, compensation governance and manufacturing compensation practices.
• Demonstrated experience designing wage structures, progression frameworks, geographic differentials and premium pay programs.
• Advanced analytical, financial modeling and executive presentation skills.
• Proven ability to influence senior executives and drive enterprise-wide compensation decisions.
• Experience leading large, cross-functional compensation initiatives with significant organizational impact.

Nice to have

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP).
• Experience supporting both union and non-union manufacturing environments.
• Experience within global manufacturing or advanced technology organizations.
• Expertise with Radford, Mercer, WTW and specialized manufacturing compensation surveys.
• Experience with Workday, SAP SuccessFactors or enterprise compensation planning systems.
• Lean, Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience.
• Experience leading or mentoring compensation professionals.

Benefits

• Bonus for full-time regular employees.
• Benefits for full-time regular employees.
• Equity for full-time regular employees.

Before you apply

• All offers are contingent on a cleared background check and possible reference check.
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company that builds intelligent systems to protect service members and civilians. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies.