Shield AI에서 차세대 무기 체계의 개발부터 생산, 배치를 총괄할 Program Director를 모집합니다. 방산 및 무기 체계 분야에서 10년 이상의 경력을 보유하고, 복잡한 국방 프로젝트를 성공적으로 이끈 경험이 필수입니다. 엔지니어링, 제조, 고객 관리를 아우르는 전략적 리더십과 국방 획득 프로세스에 대한 깊은 이해가 요구됩니다. 워싱턴 DC에서 근무하며 자율 지능형 방산 시스템의 미래를 함께 만들어갈 전문가를 찾습니다.
Washington, DC
Hivemind Solutions Division – Leadership /
Full Time Employee /
On-site
Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. 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.
Shield AI is seeking an exceptional Program Director to lead the development, production, integration, and operational deployment of next-generation weapon systems. This role serves as the senior program leader responsible for delivering complex defense programs from concept development through fielding, ensuring successful execution across engineering, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, test, customer engagement, and business growth activities.
The Program Director will provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of weapon system programs, driving alignment between technical execution, customer requirements, financial performance, and long-term business objectives. This role requires close coordination with distributed teams across engineering, manufacturing, operations, and government stakeholders to deliver mission-ready capabilities at scale.
The ideal candidate combines deep program leadership experience with a strong understanding of defense acquisition, weapons development, production operations, and customer engagement. You will be responsible for driving schedule, cost, technical performance, production readiness, operational outcomes, and customer satisfaction while helping shape the future of autonomous and intelligent defense systems.
Serve as the senior program leader responsible for the successful execution of weapon system development, production, integration, test, and deployment programs from concept through operational fielding.
Lead and coordinate activities across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, operations, flight test, business development, and customer organizations to ensure program objectives are achieved.
Partner with executive leadership, customers, engineering leaders, product management, and operations teams to define program objectives aligned to mission outcomes, customer success, strategic growth, financial performance, and technical excellence.
Own development and execution of integrated program plans, including scope, schedules, milestones, budgets, resource allocation, staffing plans, risk management, and customer deliverables. Continuously balance customer priorities, technical risks, production constraints, and business objectives across multiple programs.
Serve as the primary interface for customers, government stakeholders, and strategic partners. Build trusted relationships, manage expectations, communicate program status, and ensure successful execution of contractual commitments.
Lead readiness activities supporting manufacturing, qualification, integration, test, and operational deployment. Drive closure of technical, operational, and production dependencies required to achieve delivery commitments and fielding objectives.
Identify critical path risks, execution bottlenecks, resource conflicts, and cost pressures. Develop and execute mitigation strategies to maintain program performance across schedule, budget, quality, and technical objectives.
Lead program reviews, executive reviews, customer reviews, Gate Reviews, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), Integrated Product Team (IPT) reviews, and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
Facilitate timely and effective technical, operational, and business decisions across cross-functional teams. Apply sufficient technical understanding to identify risks, challenge assumptions, evaluate tradeoffs, and drive alignment toward program success.
Establish a disciplined operating rhythm that provides visibility into program status, financial performance, risks, customer commitments, production readiness, and strategic priorities. Ensure stakeholders remain informed and aligned at all levels of the organization.
Support continuous improvement initiatives that improve execution efficiency, scalability, quality, and predictability across development, production, and deployment activities.
Own program financial performance, resource planning, revenue forecasts, margin objectives, contract execution, and customer deliverables. Ensure programs meet operational and financial targets while maintaining high standards of technical excellence.
Support capture efforts, proposals, Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), strategic partnerships, customer engagements, and business development activities that expand Shield AI's weapons portfolio and market position.
$210,000 - $310,000 a year
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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.
