Shield AI – Technical Program Manager, Manufacturing (R4741)

Shield AI, a venture‑backed deep‑tech firm founded in 2015, is rapidly scaling its autonomous aircraft portfolio, including the V‑BAT and X‑BAT platforms. As the United States and allied forces increasingly rely on AI‑enabled systems for contested environments, the company’s manufacturing footprint must expand across multiple continents. The recent opening for a Technical Program Manager, Manufacturing reflects a strategic push to translate cutting‑edge prototypes into volume‑ready production, ensuring that hardware can keep pace with software advancements and defense procurement cycles. The role demands end‑to‑end ownership of program schedules, critical‑path management, and cross‑functional alignment among engineering, supply chain, quality and facilities teams.

Candidates must bring at least five years of aerospace or advanced‑manufacturing leadership, preferably with greenfield facility experience and new‑product‑introduction expertise. By embedding construction milestones, tooling readiness, and ECR/ECO change control into a disciplined operating cadence, the manager will mitigate bottlenecks that traditionally delay defense hardware roll‑outs. This hands‑on, floor‑focused approach is essential for converting rapid prototyping cycles into reliable, scalable production lines that meet stringent DoD timelines.

Across the defense sector, the shortage of senior manufacturing program managers is becoming a competitive differentiator. Companies that can attract talent capable of synchronizing AI hardware development with supply‑chain resilience gain faster fielding and lower lifecycle costs. Shield AI’s compensation package—$120k‑$180k plus bonus, benefits and equity—signals the premium placed on this skill set. For the broader market, the hiring trend underscores a shift toward integrated, software‑driven platforms where manufacturing agility is as critical as algorithmic performance, reshaping how defense contractors plan growth and investment.