Technical Program Manager – Mission Autonomy

About the role

Shield AI is seeking a Technical Program Manager to lead the integration of its Hivemind autonomy stack onto next‑generation aircraft platforms. The role sits within the Aircraft division and bridges aircraft engineering with autonomy software teams to deliver mission‑ready autonomous systems from concept through production and operational deployment.

Key responsibilities

• Own the end‑to‑end integration program for Hivemind autonomy software on new aircraft, coordinating hardware and software schedules, budgets, and resources.
• Partner with aircraft engineering to align software development with hardware integration, manufacturing, lab availability, and flight‑test timelines.
• Define clear program objectives with product managers, engineering leads, operations, and executive leadership, linking them to mission impact and financial outcomes.
• Drive technical and programmatic decision‑making, identify risks, challenge assumptions, and ensure integration readiness through reviews and gate processes.
• Facilitate communication across distributed teams, maintain meeting cadence, track milestones, and report program status, financials, and customer deliverables.

Required profile

• Minimum 10 years of experience leading complex cross‑functional engineering programs from concept to production, with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience).
• Strong technical understanding of software‑enabled autonomous and aerospace systems.
• Proven ability to manage scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance in fast‑paced environments.
• Experience conducting Program Management Reviews, gate reviews, and Estimates at Completion.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills, capable of leading through influence across distributed teams.