Full-Time

Product Manager

Hivemind Foundations

Updated on 3/14/2025

Shield AI

Shield AI

501-1,000 employees

Develops AI and autonomous systems for defense

Compensation Overview

$182k - $273kAnnually

+ Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Expert

San Diego, CA, USA

The job is onsite in the San Diego metro area.

US Top Secret Clearance Required

Category
Product Management
Product
Required Skills
Product Management
Requirements
  • B.S. in Computer Science with 10+ years of work experience. Similar degree or equivalent practical experience acceptable.
  • Rock-solid fundamentals in software engineering and the software development life cycle.
  • Expert at balancing technical vs business risks and turning engineering output into business outcomes.
  • Relentless learner who can comfortably develop the specialized knowledge necessary for driving the roadmap of a highly technical product.
  • Deep customer empathy and highly creative at crafting technical solutions to solve customer problems.
  • Expert communicator for both a technical and non-technical audience.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and maintain the roadmap for Hivemind Foundations in collaboration with engineering leadership.
  • Develop product requirements based on deep understanding of customer needs.
  • Be an expert user and evangelist for your product.
  • Ensure the Hivemind Foundations product has world-class capabilities, quality, and documentation.
  • Oversee solutions to some of the most challenging foundational configuration and communication problems to multi-agent autonomy.
  • Understand the business and technical landscape that affects your product.
Desired Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in Computer Science or MBA
  • Experience in highly technical customer facing roles
  • Expertise in modern C++ and the development of middleware, communications, and/or operation systems.
  • Expert user/contributor to ROS/ROS2
  • Experience with middleware or communications for multi-agent robotics
  • Experience with unmanned air systems
  • Experience with airworthiness, functional safety, or cybersecurity

Shield AI specializes in creating artificial intelligence and autonomous systems specifically for the defense industry. The company develops AI-powered systems, including autonomous drones, that assist military operations, especially in environments where GPS and communication are unavailable. This technology allows for safer and more efficient defense operations. Shield AI differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on advanced AI solutions tailored for government and military clients, securing significant contracts like the multi-billion dollar EWAAC contract, which demonstrates its credibility and capability in the market. The company's goal is to enhance operational safety and effectiveness in defense scenarios, ultimately aiming to protect lives through its innovative technologies.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Late Stage VC

Total Funding

$1.3B

Headquarters

San Diego, California

Founded

2015

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Recent $240 million funding round boosts Shield AI's growth and innovation capabilities.
  • Collaboration with L3Harris enhances Shield AI's electronic warfare solutions and market opportunities.
  • Gary Steele's appointment as CEO positions Shield AI for accelerated growth and market leadership.

What critics are saying

  • Emerging AI defense startups could threaten Shield AI's market position with competitive solutions.
  • Rapid AI advancements may require Shield AI to invest heavily in R&D to stay competitive.
  • Potential delays in government contract approvals could impact Shield AI's revenue stream.

What makes Shield AI unique

  • Shield AI's Hivemind is the first autonomous AI Pilot deployed in combat since 2018.
  • The company focuses on AI systems for defense, enhancing military operations' safety and efficiency.
  • Shield AI's strategic acquisitions, like Martin UAV, strengthen its position in defense technology.

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Benefits

Medical Insurance Coverage

Long Term Disability Insurance

Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA

Employee Assistance Program

Subsidized Gym Membership

Pet Insurance

Competitive Compensation

Retirement Services

Life Insurance

Parental Leave

Bereavement Support

Flexible Work Hours

PTO

Paid Holidays

Commuter Benefits

Relaxed Dress Code

Yearly Swag Items

Unlimited Snacks

Bottomless Beverages

Annual Celebrations

Work From Home Benefits

Standing Desks and Widescreen Monitors

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Chosun Ilbo
Mar 13th, 2025
Hanwha Asset Management invests in US defense startup Shield AI's growth

Earlier, Shield AI announced on the 6th that it secured $240 million in funding from strategic investor Hanwha Aerospace and existing investors such as Andreessen Horowitz.

PR Newswire
Mar 12th, 2025
Shield Ai Appoints Gary Steele As Ceo, Ryan Tseng Named President

SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shield AI, the deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software and defense aircraft, today announced a leadership transition designed to accelerate the company's next phase of growth. Gary Steele, a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of experience scaling global technology enterprises, will join Shield AI as CEO on May 13, 2025. Steele will also join Shield AI's Board of Directors, bringing a proven track record of driving high-growth companies toward operational scale and market leadership.After a decade as Co-Founder and CEO, Ryan Tseng has made the decision to step down from his role and transition into Co-Founder and President, where he will focus on driving senior level engagement with the US and foreign policy and defense leaders, as well as with aerospace and defense companies. Under Ryan's leadership, Shield AI has achieved extraordinary growth, expanding to more than 900 teammates, raising over $1 billion in funding, and becoming the fourth multi-billion-dollar defense technology company."Among my most important responsibilities has always been ensuring Shield AI is led by the absolute best person for the role. Exceptional leaders prioritize mission, embody honor, are service-driven, intellectually rigorous, tireless in effort, wise in judgment, and introspective," said Ryan Tseng. "Over the past year, with the demand for autonomy solutions at scale and the growth of our aircraft business, it became unmistakably clear that Shield AI required a leader with not only deep software expertise but proven experience scaling technology organizations

GovCon Wire
Mar 7th, 2025
Shield AI Closes $240M Funding Round

Learn more about the $240 million F-1 strategic financing round closed by Shield AI to help expand the deployment of its Hivemind Enterprise AI-powered autonomy software suite.

KED Global
Mar 7th, 2025
Hanwha Aerospace, L3Harris anchor Shield AI's $240 mn funding

Industrial observers say Shield AI's software could be integrated into Hanwha's future unmanned aircraft platforms.

Defense Daily
Mar 6th, 2025
Shield AI Raises $240 Million In New Round That Includes L3Harris

Shield AI on Thursday said it has raised $240 million in a new funding round to fuel growth of its autonomy software suite that it recently began offering to other companies, governments, and developers to build, test, and integrate autonomy into their robotic...