Autonomy Flight Systems Program Lead

The Robot Age; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a technical program manager to lead the X-BAT organization’s autonomous aircraft development efforts. The role requires coordinating across flight sciences, vehicle integration, autonomy, test, and operations to ensure milestones are met and readiness is demonstrated.

You will drive cross-functional alignment, manage integration risks, and pressure-test plans to keep execution grounded in technical reality, communicating tradeoffs to stakeholders with clarity and urgency.

Qualifications

• Senior technical program management experience in aerospace, autonomy, or complex hardware systems.
• Ability to operate across flight sciences, autonomy, vehicle integration, test, and operations teams.
• Strong systems integration instincts and disciplined execution in rapid-iteration environments.
• Comfort communicating risk, readiness, and tradeoffs to technical and program stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical execution and program coordination for X-BAT development work
• Align engineering, program, autonomy, test, and operations teams around demonstration objectives
• Track integration risks, readiness milestones, and cross-functional dependencies
• Use aerospace systems judgment to pressure-test plans and keep execution tied to technical reality

Skills

Senior technical program management

Aerospace experience

Autonomy

Complex hardware systems

Cross-functional leadership

Risk communication

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a technical program manager to lead the X-BAT organization’s autonomous aircraft development efforts. The role requires coordinating across flight sciences, vehicle integration, autonomy, test, and operations to ensure milestones are met and readiness is demonstrated.

You will drive cross-functional alignment, manage integration risks, and pressure-test plans to keep execution grounded in technical reality, communicating tradeoffs to stakeholders with clarity and urgency.