Head of Aircraft Production

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. About Shield AI: Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Our products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies.

Job Description: We’re looking for a hands-on manufacturing leader to take X-BAT from early prototype builds through production launch and into rate production. You will lead prototype build execution and the manufacturing setup of our new Seattle-area facility, X-Forge 3. You’ll build the production team, establish the factory’s operating system and deliver the readiness needed to scale aircraft production safely, reliably and efficiently. This role carries accountability across the full journey: turning lessons from development builds into a repeatable production system, then leading that operation against safety, quality, delivery and cost commitments. You’ll work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain and Program Management to make that happen.