Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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.
What you'll do:
Lead program financials end-to-end: forecasting, budgeting, EAC development, and variance analysis across development and production phasesPartner with Program Managers to drive program execution, quantify risks/opportunities, and influence cost, schedule, and scope decisionsBuild and maintain integrated financial models linking labor, material, and manufacturing inputs to program outcomesDeliver actionable insights to senior leadership on program health, margin performance, and resource allocationEstablish and scale KPI reporting (cost, schedule, throughput, unit economics) using Power BI, Excel, and data pipelinesSupport month-end and quarter-end close with accurate accruals, revenue recognition inputs, and variance narrativesCollaborate with Supply Chain and Manufacturing to track material usage, inventory movement, and cost driversDrive 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 environmentsProven ownership of program financials with direct impact on EAC accuracy, cost control, and margin improvementAdvanced financial modeling skills (Excel) with the ability to integrate operational drivers into forecastsStrong understanding of government contracting (FFP, CPFF, T&M) and practical application of US GAAP in a project-based environmentExperience partnering cross-functionally with Program Management, Engineering, and Operations to influence decisionsDemonstrated ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for senior stakeholdersHands-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 productionDeep expertise in EAC modeling, cost structure optimization, and program margin expansionAdvanced 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 driversMBA or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related fieldDemonstrated ability to influence program strategy and investment decisions at the leadership levelHigh ownership mindset with a bias for action and a history of driving measurable business outcomes