Program Manager (R4930)

Shield AI; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI seeks a Program Manager to lead global COCO UAS deployments, linking flight ops, logistics, sustainment, subcontractors, and customer stakeholders to enable mission success.

The role requires driving disciplined execution, building scalable processes, and thriving in fast-paced environments while maintaining regulatory and security standards.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of program management experience for Department of Defense programs.
• Ability to run advanced projects/programs consisting of multiple interrelated projects, largely self-directed.
• Proven ability to focus on long-term business objectives.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
• Experience with scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project or Smartsheet.
• Excellent leadership, time management, organization, and team management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.
• Expert understanding of complex project financials.
• Alignment with Shield AI values including accountability, trust, collaboration, and servant leadership.
• Ability to obtain a Secret Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Deliver proven, exceptional, and reliable performance in support of customer/end-user’s mission through flawless program management.
• Collaborate, motivate, and lead stakeholders to deliver early, under budget, and with strong technical performance.
• Manage customer relationships and act as the program’s main point of contact.
• Balance shifting customer priorities related to cost, schedule, and technical parameters.
• Provide hands-on management of all aspects of the program.
• Track and report budget, resources, and project metrics accurately and timely.
• Perform critical path analyses to accelerate pace or mitigate risks.
• Identify bottlenecks and drive actions to keep projects on schedule.
• Partner with leadership to guide prioritization of projects and resource use.
• Lead effective meetings with preparation and follow-up.
• Foster an environment of accountability and execution excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Time management

Organization

Team management

Stakeholder management

Education

PMP certification or equivalent program management training

Undergraduate degree in engineering, business, or operations management

Tools

Microsoft Project

Smartsheet

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense‑tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn , X , Instagram , and YouTube .

Job Description

Seeking a Program Manager to lead execution and operational maturity for global Company-Owned, Company-Operated (COCO) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) deployments supporting contracted intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. This role serves as the critical link between flight operations, logistics, sustainment, subcontractors, finance, and customer stakeholders to ensure successful deployment and sustainment of operational capabilities worldwide. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and can drive disciplined execution across organizations while building scalable processes that enable continued growth and mission success.

What you'll do:

• Deliver proven, exceptional, and reliable performance in support of customer/end-user’s mission through flawless program management.
• Effectively collaborate, motivate, and lead relevant stakeholders to successfully deliver early, under budget, and with exceptional technical performance.
• Manage customer relationships and act as the key point of contact for the program
• Astutely balance and rebalance shifting customer priories related to cost, schedule, and technical parameters of programs.
• Provide hands‑on management of all aspects of the program
• Drive the accurate and timely tracking and reporting of budget, resource, and project management standard metrics
• Complete critical path analyses including the evaluation of potential means to accelerate the pace or mitigate identified risks
• Identify potential bottlenecks or delays in programs and drive efforts to ensure projects stay on schedule
• Partner with leadership to guide prioritization of projects and utilization of resources
• Establish and lead a consistent cadence of well‑organized, well‑facilitated, and effective meetings, including driving all preparation and follow up activities
• Support an environment where accountability and program execution excellence are core

Required qualifications:

• 5+ years of program management experience for Department of Defense programs
• Ability to run advanced projects/programs consisting of multiple interrelated projects, in a manner that is largely self‑directed
• Proven a bility to focus on long‑term business objectives
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
• Experience with scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project or Smartsheet
• Excellent skills in leadership, time management, organization, team management
• Excellent interpersonal skills and verbal and written ability
• Expert understanding of complex project financials
• Demonstrated alignment with Shield AI’s values and leadership principles, including accountability, trust, collaboration, and servant leadership
• Ability to obtain a Secret Security Clearance

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience supporting unmanned aerial systems, aviation operations, ISR programs, or defense technology programs
• Familiarity with aircraft sustainment, maintenance operations, or fleet management models
• Experience managing subcontractors, external service providers, or distributed operational teams
• Experience building scalable operational processes in startup or high‑growth organizations
• Active Secret Security Clearance
• PMP certification or equivalent program management training
• Undergraduate degree in engineering, business, or operations management

$110,000 - $160,000 a year

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part‑time employees are not eligible for benefits.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.