Lead cross-functional quality engineering programs for autonomous aerospace systems, driving validation, reliability tracking, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and manufacturing readiness. Manage quality plans, schedules, metrics, and risk while coordinating verification, integration, and release readiness across engineering, test, and manufacturing teams.
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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Join a high-impact quality engineering team driving reliability, validation, and execution excellence across next-generation autonomous systems. This role partners across engineering, test, manufacturing, and program leadership to ensure quality objectives are embedded throughout the product lifecycle. You will lead cross-functional quality initiatives by managing validation efforts, driving issue resolution, tracking technical risk, and improving engineering execution through data-driven program management.
We are seeking a Quality Engineering Technical Program Manager (TPM) with experience leading complex hardware or aerospace quality programs, including validation planning, root cause analysis, reliability tracking, and cross-functional execution.
What you'll do:
- Lead cross-functional quality engineering programs spanning validation, integration, manufacturing readiness, and field reliability
- Drive issue triage, root cause investigations, corrective actions, and closure tracking for system-level failures
- Develop and manage quality plans, schedules, metrics, and risk tracking across engineering teams
- Coordinate verification and validation activities across hardware, software, manufacturing, and test organizations
- Partner with engineering leadership to improve release readiness, defect reduction, and development processes
- Analyze quality and reliability trends to identify systemic issues and improve product performance
Required qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience in technical program management, quality engineering, systems engineering, or validation leadership in complex hardware or aerospace environments
- Strong understanding of root cause analysis, corrective actions, and reliability tracking
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs across engineering, manufacturing, and test organizations
- Experience managing technical risk, program dependencies, and execution tradeoffs in fast-paced development programs
- Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to drive alignment and accountability across teams
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience supporting aerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems programs
- Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or regulated engineering environments
- Experience with reliability testing, systems integration, or manufacturing quality
- Experience using data and automation tools such as Python, SQL, Jira, Power BI, or Tableau to improve quality visibility and execution
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Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
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