Senior Staff Technical Program Manager - Mission Autonomy

Shield; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 184,000 - 276,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Staff Technical Program Manager to lead launched effect and deep strike autonomy integration programs. You will define objectives, manage plans and budgets, and drive risk management across domestic and international teams.

Ideal candidates have extensive experience coordinating complex programs in defense-tech, with strong software/autonomy understanding. Travel internationally is expected as part of role.

Qualifications

• Requires 7+ years with PhD or 9+ years with Master’s or 10+ years with Bachelor’s.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional engineering programs from concept through production.
• Strong technical understanding of software-enabled systems, autonomy, aerospace systems, or complex integrated products.
• Demonstrated success managing program execution across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned launched effect and deep strike autonomy integration programs.
• Define clear program objectives tied to mission impact, customer success, growth, financial outcomes, and technical performance.
• Develop and execute integrated program plans including scope, schedules, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and resources.
• Drive timely, high-quality decisions across cross-functional teams; identify risks and drive alignment.
• Coordinate system integration activities and drive readiness reviews, milestones, and closure of dependencies.
• Communicate status, milestones, risks, and challenges in well-organized meetings.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Risk management

International travel readiness

Lead through influence

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

PhD

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 .

We are looking for an exceptional Senior Staff Technical Program Manager to join our Weapons Domain team, integrating Shield AI’s Hivemind Autonomy stack onto Launched Effects and Deep Strike platforms. Your role will include starting programs from the ground up and guiding them through production and into operational employment. This role requires a self-starter who can integrate quickly with a fast-moving, highly competent team.

You will drive alignment across software development and integration activities with domestic and international customers while remaining synchronized with Business Development colleagues. This role requires close coordination with colleagues across Shield AI’s international teams, including offices in Europe and Asia, and a motivated, cross-functional leadership approach.

The ideal candidate has a combination of government and commercial program management experience, with strong, established fundamentals in coordinating complex, first-of-a-kind integration efforts. You will be responsible for driving cost, schedule, integration readiness, risk management, and successful operational outcomes while pushing the boundaries of mission autonomy. We are looking for a candidate who can think critically and creatively while leveraging a firm foundation in managing risk across new and foundational programs.

What you'll do:

Lead Assigned Launched Effect and Deep Strike Autonomy Integration Programs

• Serve as the program manager for assigned Weapons programs, leading the integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software onto OWAs, ISR and LCCM platforms.

Establish Clear Objectives

• Work closely with product managers, engineering leads, operations, and executive leadership to define clear program objectives tied to mission impact, customer success, strategic growth, financial outcomes, and technical performance.

Program & Project Management

• Own the development and execution of integrated program and project plans, including scope, schedules, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and resource allocation. Continuously evaluate and rebalance customer priorities, technical risks, cost constraints, and schedule demands throughout the program.

Drive Timely, High-Quality Decisions

• Facilitate rigorous, fast, and effective technical and programmatic decision-making across cross-functional teams. While not expected to design systems directly, you will possess sufficient technical depth to identify risks, challenge assumptions, and drive alignment. Hands-on experience with software or autonomy products is an accelerator.

Integration & Test Readiness

• Coordinate system integration activities across labs, ground testing, surrogate testing and flight test demonstrations. Drive readiness reviews, integration milestones, and closure of technical dependencies required to support successful platform integration and operational deployment.
• Identify potential bottlenecks, critical-path risks, and schedule delays, and drive mitigation strategies to achieve program milestones and delivery commitments. Conduct critical-path analyses and support program execution through Gate Reviews, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and Estimates at Completion (EACs).

Communicate with Excellence

• Drive a consistent cadence of well-organized, effective meetings, including preparation, facilitation, action tracking, and follow-up. Ensure stakeholders remain aligned on status, milestones, priorities, risks, integration readiness, and technical challenges.

Drive Technical Execution

• Support the development and refinement of technical and operational documentation, engineering change orders, work instructions, service bulletins, operational procedures, and integration documentation.

Empower Teams & Remove Obstacles

• Create an environment where teams have the clarity, tools, accountability, and support needed to execute effectively. Escalate issues quickly, streamline processes, eliminate blockers, and foster a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement.

Deliver Outcomes

• Drive accurate and timely tracking and reporting of program financials, resources, schedules, integration status, and customer deliverables.

Support Growth & Strategic Initiatives

• Support business development activities related to current and future autonomy integration programs, including proposals, requests for information (RFIs), requests for proposals (RFPs), technical evaluations, and strategic customer engagements.

Required qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree; or 7 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional engineering programs from concept through production and operational deployment.
• Strong technical understanding of software-enabled systems, autonomy, aerospace systems, or complex integrated products.
• Demonstrated success managing program execution across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance in fast-paced environments.
• Experience with Program Management Reviews (PMRs), gate reviews, and estimates.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead through influence across distributed teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments.
• Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and ability to drive execution with high standards and collaboration.
• Willingness to travel internationally

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience integrating autonomy or software systems onto defense platforms.
• Experience in software development, autonomy development, or systems engineering.
• Experience managing clean-sheet defense or technology development programs.
• PMP and/or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification.
• Familiarity with DoD contracting, defense acquisition, or national security programs.
• Experience balancing aggressive timelines with complex engineering constraints.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance or higher.
• Familiarity with Weapons PAE and USG Acquisition organizations
• Familiarity with Mavlink and/or WOSA standards

$184,320 - $276,480 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. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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.