Senior Director, Global Flight Operations & Strategy

Shield AI; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 195,000 - 295,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Director of Flight Operations to lead the global employment of V-BAT and oversee Flight Test, Deployed Operations, Mission Control, and Training. Partner with engineering, sustainment, program management, and executives to align operational execution with technology development and customer success.

You will standardize processes, drive scalable operations worldwide, and oversee risk, readiness, and training across international engagements and customer

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in military aviation, commercial aerospace, defense, or advanced aviation operations.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary aviation organizations.
• Strong understanding of aircraft operations, operational risk management, mission planning, aviation safety, and governance.
• Ability to balance competing enterprise priorities involving customer commitments, engineering schedules, operational readiness, and business objectives.
• Experience developing operational strategy, organizational governance, and scalable operational processes.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational development, communication, and executive decision‑making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the Flight Operations organization consisting of Directors, Senior Managers, Managers, Supervisors, and technical professionals across Flight Test, Deployed Operations, Mission Control, and Training.
• Establish enterprise governance, decision frameworks, and operating standards for all V-BAT operations across the Aircraft Division.
• Develop organizational strategies that enable safe, scalable, and efficient V-BAT flight operations worldwide.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, disciplined execution, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee execution of developmental flight testing, contractor-owned/contractor-operated missions, customer demonstrations, deployed operations, and training events.
• Ensure operational activities are conducted safely, efficiently, and in accordance with regulatory, contractual, and company requirements.
• Establish operational readiness standards for aircraft, personnel, support equipment, and operational sites.
• Provide oversight of operational risk management, flight scheduling, and mission execution across all operational organizations.
• Lead internal and customer training organizations responsible for developing qualified operators, maintainers, and instructors.
• Ensure training programs evolve with product capabilities and operational requirements.
• Supervise operational qualification, currency, standardization, and evaluation programs across all Flight Operations personnel.

Skills

Leadership

Aviation operations

Risk management

Strategic planning

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Director of Flight Operations to lead the global employment of V-BAT and oversee Flight Test, Deployed Operations, Mission Control, and Training. Partner with engineering, sustainment, program management, and executives to align operational execution with technology development and customer success.

You will standardize processes, drive scalable operations worldwide, and oversee risk, readiness, and training across international engagements and customer