Senior Staff Technical Program Manager

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, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. 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. 

Job Description:

Shield AI is a venture-backed defence technology company building intelligent autonomous systems for aircraft. Our mission is to protect service members and civilians through AI and autonomy.

We’re looking for a Technical Program Manager to join our Port Melbourne team, leading the development, integration, and deployment of the world’s best AI pilots across a range of transformative autonomous systems (UAVs, USVs, UUVs).

This is a high-impact, hands-on role working at the centre of our growing Australian operations. You’ll manage complex engineering programmes from early concept through to field testing and deployment — and work directly with customers, defence stakeholders, and internal teams to make it happen.

What you'll do:

• Lead and deliver end-to-end technical program management leverage your industry knowledge to shape/define program and organizational objectives  

• Oversee the full programme lifecycle – initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure – ensuring exceptional outcomes. 

• Fulfil contractual and customer deliverables with precision, timeliness, and clarity. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government, defence, suppliers, and technical teams. 

• Operate with sensitivity to cultural, political, and military dynamics across domestic and international partnerships. 

• Conduct critical path analysis, manage earned value tracking, and report on programme health metrics. 

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks and blockers. 

• Lead organised, efficient meetings with clear actions and follow-up. 

• Support business development efforts, including EOIs, RFTs, RFIs, proposals, and unsolicited submissions.

Required qualifications:

• Significant experience as a technical project or programme manager in complex engineering or technology domains. 

• Proven track record of delivering complex, cross-functional projects aligned with long-term business strategy. 

• Experience managing 0→1 product development cycles. 

• Strong commercial understanding of project financials, including earned value management, estimates at completion, and contract data requirements. 

• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g. Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Vena, Salesforce). 

• Experience working with or within the Australian Defence Force. 

• Outstanding communication, leadership, organisation, and influencing skills. 

• A proactive, dependable, and collaborative mindset — you work hard, uphold high standards, and support your team.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with software or autonomy development programmes. 

• Familiarity with the ASDEFCON (or equivalent) contracting suite. 

• Exposure to multi-national teams, flight test campaigns, or airworthiness certification. 

• PMP or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) accreditation. 

• Experience working with or managing international defence related projects.

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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.

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, colour, 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.