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Digital Factory Lead (R5265)

Shield AI· Aircraft Operations Division – Manufacturing Engineering
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Seattle, WA$150k - $230kFull Time EmployeePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Shield AI is building an AI-native manufacturing ecosystem for autonomous aircraft. The Digital Factory Lead will define and deploy digital systems, connected infrastructure, and AI-enabled tools to power aircraft production, integrating MES, AI solutions, and factory automation across engineering, production, quality, maintenance, and supply chain.

Responsibilities

  • AI-Enabled Manufacturing: Develop and execute Shield AI's AI Manufacturing roadmap; Identify opportunities to leverage AI across production, quality, maintenance, supply chain, training, and operational decision-making; Deploy AI-powered solutions including intelligent work instructions, manufacturing copilots, predictive maintenance, automated root-cause analysis, and advanced analytics; Partner with software and data teams to turn operational challenges into scalable technical solutions; Capture and digitize manufacturing knowledge to improve workforce productivity, training, and consistency.
  • Digital Factory Systems: Lead the deployment, configuration, and continuous improvement of Shield AI's Manufacturing Execution System (MES); Establish the digital thread connecting engineering, production, quality, maintenance, and supply chain operations; Drive integration between MES, ERP, PLM, QMS, factory automation systems, and manufacturing equipment.
  • Connected Factory Infrastructure: Define and deploy the digital architecture supporting production equipment, tooling, test systems, PLCs, sensors, and industrial controls; Establish factory-wide connectivity and real-time operational visibility; Develop the data ecosystem required to support AI, automation, analytics, and future autonomous manufacturing capabilities.
  • Factory Transformation: Develop and execute Shield AI's Digital Factory roadmap; Lead automation initiatives across manufacturing, inspection, testing, and material flow; Evaluate emerging technologies including machine vision, digital twins, autonomous inspection, and next-generation manufacturing systems; Help define what aircraft manufacturing should look like over the next decade.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Automation, or a related technical discipline
  • 8+ years of experience in digital manufacturing, manufacturing systems, industrial automation, software-enabled operations, or Industry 4.0 environments
  • Experience implementing manufacturing software systems such as MES, QMS, maintenance, analytics, or automation platforms
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, industrial controls, factory automation, and manufacturing data systems
  • Experience working directly with software developers, system integrators, automation engineers, or data teams to deliver production-ready solutions
  • Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives from concept through deployment

Skills

Required:Manufacturing Execution System (MES)AI/Analytics in ManufacturingIndustrial Automation

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • Equal opportunity employer
  • Background and reference checks as part of offers
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
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