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
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Job Description:
Own the financial performance of novel autonomous aircraft programs, partnering directly with Program Management, Engineering, and Operations to drive execution, cost control, and informed decision-making. This role sits at the center of program delivery—shaping forecasts, influencing trade-offs, and ensuring programs scale efficiently from development through production.
What you'll do:
Lead program financials end-to-end: forecasting, budgeting, EAC development, and variance analysis across development and production phases
Partner with Program Managers to drive program execution, quantify risks/opportunities, and influence cost, schedule, and scope decisions
Build and maintain integrated financial models linking labor, material, and manufacturing inputs to program outcomes
Deliver actionable insights to senior leadership on program health, margin performance, and resource allocation
Establish and scale KPI reporting (cost, schedule, throughput, unit economics) using Power BI, Excel, and data pipelines
Support month-end and quarter-end close with accurate accruals, revenue recognition inputs, and variance narratives
Collaborate with Supply Chain and Manufacturing to track material usage, inventory movement, and cost drivers
Drive automation and process improvements across financial planning, reporting, and program analytics
Required qualifications:
6+ years of experience in program finance or similar role within aerospace and defense environments
Proven ownership of program financials with direct impact on EAC accuracy, cost control, and margin improvement
Advanced financial modeling skills (Excel) with the ability to integrate operational drivers into forecasts
Strong understanding of government contracting (FFP, CPFF, T&M) and practical application of US GAAP in a project-based environment
Experience partnering cross-functionally with Program Management, Engineering, and Operations to influence decisions
Demonstrated ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for senior stakeholders
Hands-on experience with ERP systems (e.g., Costpoint) and financial planning/reporting tools (e.g., Anaplan)
Track record of operating independently in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with high accountability
Preferred qualifications:
Experience supporting autonomous systems, aerospace platforms, or complex hardware programs from development through production
Deep expertise in EAC modeling, cost structure optimization, and program margin expansion
Advanced data modeling and visualization capabilities (e.g., PowerBI)
Experience building scalable financial infrastructure (dashboards, automated reporting, data pipelines)
Strong grasp of finance in a production and manufacturing environment, including labor efficiency, yield, and unit cost drivers
MBA or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field
Demonstrated ability to influence program strategy and investment decisions at the leadership level
High ownership mindset with a bias for action and a history of driving measurable business outcomes
