← All roles

Director of Production (R4782)

Shield AI· Aircraft Operations Division – Production and Supply Chain Leadership
Apply on company site
Dallas, TX$190k - $290kFull Time EmployeePosted 5mo ago

About the role

Director-level role to lead U.S.-based manufacturing operations for Shield AI, scale production of autonomous defense systems, and partner cross-functionally with quality, engineering, and supply chain.

Responsibilities

  • Architect and execute forward-looking production plans that balance scale, agility, and quality—all while meeting demanding cost and delivery goals.
  • Drive aircraft production capabilities, implementing systems, processes, and staffing to support rapid growth.
  • Lead high-performance teams across production operations, driving excellence through clear expectations, coaching, and accountability.
  • Collaborate deeply with quality, engineering, supply chain, and customer operations to integrate design, sourcing, and production workflows.
  • Champion continuous improvement across every dimension of production: throughput, takt, quality, and cost.
  • Embed data-driven decision-making into daily operations using KPI dashboards, metrics reviews, and operational cadences.
  • Drive the adoption of automation, digitization, and advanced manufacturing methods to future-proof our operations.
  • Serve as a trusted voice to executive leadership—reporting insights, flagging risks, and translating complexity into action.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, or related field; Master’s preferred.
  • 10+ years of production leadership in advanced manufacturing environments (aerospace, automotive, or similar).
  • Proven experience building and scaling a manufacturing operation.
  • 5+ years leading large teams in high-precision, high-throughput settings.
  • Success managing complex outsourced manufacturing or tiered vendor ecosystems.
  • Deep knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies—and a passion for driving results through them.
  • Exceptional communicator, able to navigate executive-level reporting and cross-functional alignment.
  • A systems thinker with hands-on grit, capable of zooming between strategic planning and operational execution.

Skills

Required:Production leadershipLean, Six Sigma methodologiesCross-functional collaboration

Benefits

  • 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
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Shield AI

Autonomy for the world.

Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.

AerospaceAutonomyDefenseliquid-ai-recruiting-targetsetter-30setter-30-2026-q1
Company profileWebsite

More open roles at Shield AI