Full-Time

Senior Staff Program Manager

Hivemind Customer Engagement

Updated on 3/14/2025

Shield AI

Shield AI

501-1,000 employees

Develops AI and autonomous systems for defense

Compensation Overview

$174.4k - $261.6kAnnually

+ Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Expert

San Diego, CA, USA

The job is onsite in the San Diego metro area.

US Top Secret Clearance Required

Category
Project Management
Business & Strategy
Required Skills
JIRA
Risk Management
Asana
Requirements
  • 10+ years of program management experience, ideally in a customer-facing or technical environment (e.g., defense, robotics, autonomous systems, or SaaS)
  • 2+ years of late-stage startup experience
  • Experience with strategic partnerships
  • Strong organizational and project management skills, with experience using tools like JIRA, Asana, Smartsheets, or Azure DevOps
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage cross-functional teams and customers
  • Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities in dynamic, high-stakes environments
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills to anticipate challenges and proactively address them.
Responsibilities
  • Manage and oversee customer-focused programs (e.g., Workshops, Trainings etc.) from planning through execution, ensuring on-time delivery and measurable outcomes.
  • Collaborate with Applications Engineers, Product, and Engineering to track and drive key milestones related to customer feature/bug requests, integrations, demos, and training workshops.
  • Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and budgets for customer deployments.
  • Identify and mitigate risks, ensuring programs meet technical, operational, and customer requirements.
  • Work directly with customers to gather feedback and track performance metrics to refine the Hivemind Enterprise product.
  • Ensure proper documentation and handoffs for customer-facing activities, including training materials, demos, and support resources.
  • Manage communication across internal and external stakeholders to drive alignment and engagement.
Desired Qualifications
  • Engineering background in addition business (ie MBA) acumen
  • Experience working in the defense or aerospace industry with knowledge of government customers and military use cases.
  • Familiarity with autonomous vehicle software, UAV systems, or robotic applications.
  • Certification in project management methodologies (e.g., PMP, Agile, or Scrum).

Shield AI specializes in creating artificial intelligence and autonomous systems specifically for the defense industry. The company develops advanced 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 high-demand solutions that enhance operational capabilities and safety, and by securing significant contracts with government and military clients, such as the multi-billion dollar EWAAC contract. The company's goal is to protect lives through its innovative technologies and to continue growing in the defense technology market.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Late Stage VC

Total Funding

$1.2B

Headquarters

San Diego, California

Founded

2015

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • $240 million funding round boosts Shield AI's growth and innovation potential.
  • Collaboration with L3Harris enhances electronic warfare capabilities and market reach.
  • Expansion of Hivemind Enterprise opens new partnerships and revenue streams.

What critics are saying

  • Increased competition from companies like Rantizo challenges Shield AI's market position.
  • Reliance on government contracts exposes Shield AI to defense spending changes.
  • International expansion may face geopolitical risks and regulatory hurdles.

What makes Shield AI unique

  • Hivemind is the first autonomous AI Pilot deployed in combat since 2018.
  • Shield AI's V-BAT is Japan's first maritime ISR platform, enhancing defense capabilities.
  • Strategic acquisitions like Martin UAV strengthen Shield AI's position in autonomous systems.

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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%
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...

PR Newswire
Mar 6th, 2025
Shield AI raises $240M at $5.3B valuation to scale Hivemind Enterprise, an AI-powered autonomy developer platform

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Shield AI, the deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software products and defense aircraft, today announced it has completed a $240 million, F-1 strategic funding round, raising the company's valuation to $5.3 billion.

Shield AI
Mar 6th, 2025
Shield AI Raises $240M Funding Round

Shield AI announced a $240 million F-1 strategic funding round, raising its valuation to $5.3 billion. Major investors include L3Harris and Hanwha Aerospace, with existing investors like Andreessen Horowitz participating. The funds will expand the deployment of Hivemind Enterprise, an autonomy software suite for intelligent machines. Shield AI's technology supports U.S. and allied operations, with successful autonomy applications in various military aircraft and environments.

Simply Wall St
Feb 27th, 2025
L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) Partners With Shield AI For Advanced Electronic Warfare Demonstration

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) recently announced a collaboration with Shield AI to enhance electronic warfare capabilities, integrating their DiSCO system with AI technology.