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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About Shield AI:
Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilot. Our autonomous systems, including V-BAT and Hivemind Enterprise, operate in the most contested environments in the world. As next-generation aircraft programs transition from development into production, operational agility and production discipline are critical to delivering mission-ready systems while enabling rapid innovation.
We are seeking a Senior Production Planner for Development Programs to drive production planning and execution for developmental and prototype aircraft builds. This role operates at the intersection of Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to ensure aircraft build schedules remain executable despite evolving designs, changing priorities, and material constraints.
Job Description:
The Senior Production Planner – Development Programs is responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing production plans for prototype and developmental aircraft programs. Unlike traditional production environments, this role must navigate incomplete engineering definition, evolving bills of material, shifting program priorities, and dynamic supply chain conditions while maintaining progress toward key build and flight test milestones.
You will serve as a critical coordination point between Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management to translate rapidly changing program requirements into actionable production plans.
What you'll do:
Develop and maintain detailed production schedules for prototype aircraft builds, major assemblies, and integration activities
Translate engineering release plans, build priorities, and program milestones into executable manufacturing schedules
Release and manage work orders in support of aircraft builds, including builds with incomplete engineering definition or evolving configurations or bills of material
Coordinate schedule adjustments resulting from engineering changes, design revisions, and shifting program priorities
Monitor production progress and proactively identify risks to key build, integration, and flight test milestones
Coordinate temporary planning structures and workarounds to enable manufacturing progress while maintaining configuration control
Facilitate rapid schedule recovery plans when design, material, or technical issues affect build progress
Partner closely with Supply Chain to align material availability with build requirements and timelines
Support ERP/MRP system accuracy through effective planning and work order management
Required qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field
5+ years of experience in production planning, manufacturing planning, production control, or supply chain operations
Experience supporting complex hardware, aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, or other highly engineered products
Experience working within ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Costpoint, or similar)
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, work order management, bills of material, and production scheduling
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and highly dynamic environment
U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance
Preferred qualifications:
Experience supporting prototype, NPI (New Product Introduction), or developmental manufacturing programs
Experience in UAV, aerospace, defense, or aircraft production environments
Familiarity with engineering change management and configuration control processes
APICS CPIM certification
Why Shield AI:
At Shield AI, prototype aircraft builds are where innovation becomes reality. Every developmental aircraft completed advances the future of autonomous aviation and accelerates mission capability for our customers.
This role sits at the center of that effort, helping transform evolving designs into flight-ready aircraft while building the production foundation for future scale.
If you are excited about solving complex manufacturing challenges and enabling next-generation autonomous aircraft programs, we want to hear from you.
Join us in building the world's best AI pilot.
