Senior Aerospace TPM — Flight Systems (Ranger Program)

Shield; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI seeks a Principal Technical Program Manager to lead the Ranger aircraft development for the U.S. Air Force program.

You will translate customer objectives into an integrated execution plan spanning concept development, integration, flight test, and production readiness. The ideal candidate combines engineering depth with program leadership, delivering complex aerospace systems on demanding schedules while balancing capability, affordability, modularity, and speed through disciplined

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent.
• 10+ years in aerospace engineering or technical program management.
• Experience leading major aircraft or unmanned systems programs.
• Ability to manage schedules, budgets, and risks across disciplines.
• Experience with government customers or aerospace partners.
• Clear written and verbal communication with executives.

Responsibilities

• Own integrated program execution across engineering, suppliers, and milestones.
• Translate customer needs into executable program plans and criteria.
• Drive multidisciplinary coordination across air vehicle, propulsion, avionics, and autonomy.
• Keep affordability and production at the center of execution and planning.
• Lead reviews with government stakeholders and industry partners.
• Identify risks early; assign owners and drive timely mitigation.
• Align development schedules with manufacturing readiness and tooling.
• Provide executive visibility on progress and milestones.

Skills

Program management

Aerospace engineering

Cross-functional leadership

Systems integration

Budget management

Clear communication

Active security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

Shield AI seeks a Principal Technical Program Manager to lead the Ranger aircraft development for the U.S. Air Force program.

You will translate customer objectives into an integrated execution plan spanning concept development, integration, flight test, and production readiness. The ideal candidate combines engineering depth with program leadership, delivering complex aerospace systems on demanding schedules while balancing capability, affordability, modularity, and speed through disciplined