Director, Mission Effectiveness

About the role

Shield AI is seeking a Director of Mission Effectiveness to lead multidisciplinary teams covering operational analysis, aircraft survivability, communications and integrated mission systems for its next-generation autonomous aircraft. The role sets the organization's technical and business strategy, aligns investments with product and program objectives, and oversees execution from early concept through integration, flight test and fielding. The ideal candidate has led a multidisciplinary organization supporting complex military aircraft or autonomous systems.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary organization and set priorities, accountability, objectives and operating rhythms.
• Define technical strategy, capability roadmaps and investment priorities aligned with program and business goals.
• Oversee integrated mission-system architectures covering sensors, payloads, avionics, weapons, secure communications, autonomy and survivability.
• Direct modeling, simulation, wargaming and system-of-systems analysis to evaluate mission effectiveness and emerging threats.
• Lead trade studies balancing capability, risk, cost, schedule, manufacturability and program maturity.
• Ensure disciplined execution from requirements and architecture through hardware-in-the-loop testing, signature validation, flight test, certification and fielding.
• Partner with engineering, product, program management, business development and aircraft leadership.
• Engage DoD customers, operators, suppliers and government stakeholders on requirements and concepts of operations.
• Recruit, coach and develop people managers and senior technical leaders.
• Ensure compliance with system safety, airworthiness, cybersecurity, security and certification requirements.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, mathematics or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience supporting complex military aircraft, autonomous systems or aerospace and defense programs.
• Experience leading a multidisciplinary engineering organization with people managers and senior technical leaders.
• Experience managing technical, programmatic and organizational risk and overseeing capabilities across the product lifecycle.
• Executive-level communication skills and U.S. citizenship with an active Secret clearance and ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret clearance and required SAP/SAR access.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's or PhD in aerospace, systems, electrical engineering or a related field.
• Leadership on military UAS, collaborative combat aircraft or fifth-generation fighter programs.
• Experience advancing a product from concept through acquisition, flight test and deployment.
• Knowledge of model-based systems engineering, SysML, DoD acquisition and JCIDS processes, and electronic warfare.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and experience on classified DoD or Intelligence Community programs.