Director of Autonomous Mission Systems

Shieldai

Washington (District of Columbia)

On-site

USD 180,000 - 240,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Director of Mission Systems to lead a multidisciplinary organization spanning operational analysis, survivability, communications, and integrated mission systems for next-generation autonomous aircraft. You will set technical strategy, align investments with program objectives, and oversee execution from concept through fielding.

The ideal leader has deep experience in aerospace or autonomous systems, strong business acumen, and executive communication skills to influence

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or another relevant technical discipline.
10+ years of experience supporting complex military aircraft, autonomous systems, or other aerospace and defense programs.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing a multidisciplinary engineering organization that includes people managers and senior technical leaders.
Broad working knowledge across multiple relevant disciplines, including mission systems, operational analysis, modeling and simulation, survivability, secure communications, avionics, sensors, payloads, or weapons integration.
Experience establishing organizational and technical strategies while managing technical, programmatic, and organizational risk.
Proven ability to balance mission performance and engineering requirements with cost, schedule, product maturity, and business priorities.
Experience overseeing complex aircraft capabilities across the product lifecycle—from requirements and architecture through integration, test, certification, fielding, and sustainment.
Executive-level communication skills with demonstrated success influencing customers, operators, business leaders, engineering teams, and government stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a multidisciplinary organization spanning operational analysis, survivability, communications, and integrated mission systems.
Establish clear priorities, accountability, organizational objectives, and operating rhythms that enable teams to execute effectively; define technical strategy and investment priorities.
Oversee development of integrated mission-system architectures encompassing sensors, payloads, avionics, weapons, secure communications, autonomy, and aircraft survivability.
Direct modeling, simulation, wargaming, and system-of-systems analysis to evaluate mission effectiveness and threat environments.
Lead cross-functional trade studies balancing mission capability, risk, cost, schedule, and maturity.
Ensure disciplined execution from requirements to fielding, including hardware-in-the-loop testing and certification.
Partner with engineering, product, program management, business development, and aircraft leadership to deliver capabilities.
Engage DoD customers and government stakeholders to shape requirements and communicate operational value.
Recruit, coach, and develop people managers and senior technical leaders; build depth and succession.
Ensure compliance with system-safety, airworthiness, cybersecurity, security, and certification requirements.