Staff Technical Program Manager, Propulsion (R4727)

The role

You will coordinate propulsion development for the X-BAT aircraft, working with propulsion engineers, suppliers and other teams. You will track schedules, risks and deliverables toward vehicle-level milestones and flight readiness.

What you will do

• Plan and execute propulsion development activities across engine hardware, subsystems and testing with engineers and Responsible Engineers.
• Drive propulsion program schedules and align them with vehicle-level milestones and flight readiness.
• Coordinate work across propulsion, design, fluids, controls, airframe, manufacturing, supply chain and flight test teams.
• Track technical progress, identify risks and drive mitigation plans.
• Manage propulsion-related suppliers and external partners, including schedules and delivery performance.
• Translate technical work into program status, risks and actions for leadership and stakeholders.
• Facilitate technical reviews, program checkpoints and cross-team integration discussions.
• Support propulsion test campaigns by coordinating resources, schedules and deliverables.
• Drive accountability and measurable outcomes while collaborating with engineering teams.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in technical program management or engineering leadership in aerospace or complex hardware development.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional engineering teams to deliver complex technical systems.
• Strong understanding of engineering development cycles, hardware testing and system integration.
• Demonstrated ability to manage schedules, technical risks and program execution in fast-paced environments.
• Experience working with suppliers and managing external development partners.
• Strong communication skills and ability to translate technical work into program-level execution plans.
• U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.

Nice to have

• Prior experience working directly with propulsion systems, fluid systems or aerospace hardware development programs.
• Background supporting test-driven development programs, including hardware build, integration and flight testing.
• Experience with UAV, tactical aircraft or propulsion system development programs.
• Familiarity with program management tools such as JIRA, Smartsheet or similar.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in high-ownership, hardware-centric engineering environments.
• Advanced degree in engineering (M.S.).

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits
• Equity (full-time regular employees)
• Temporary benefits package after 60 days (temporary employees)

Before you apply

• U.S. citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.
• Ability to obtain an S//SAR level security clearance is desired.
• All offers are contingent on a cleared background 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.