Director, Mission Systems

Shield AI
Washington, Dallas
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeUSD 225,000 - 340,000 annuallyFunction: Executive & General ManagementExperience: 10+ yearsEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Executive communication","Leadership","Technical judgment","Strategic planning","Risk management"]

Lead multidisciplinary teams to develop integrated mission systems for next-generation autonomous aircraft. You will set technical strategy and capability roadmaps, align investments with program objectives, and drive execution from concept development through integration, flight test, certification, and fielding. Own mission-system architecture, modeling/simulation and wargaming, system-of-systems analysis, and trade studies across performance, survivability, risk, cost, schedule, and manufacturability—while partnering with engineering, product, program, and DoD stakeholders.

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FursaFursa
Shield AI
Shield AI
21 hours ago

Director, Mission Systems

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Source: Company careers pageValidated by: Fursa AI
Last checked: 3 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Lead multidisciplinary teams to develop integrated mission systems for next-generation autonomous aircraft. You will set technical strategy and capability roadmaps, align investments with program objectives, and drive execution from concept development through integration, flight test, certification, and fielding. Own mission-system architecture, modeling/simulation and wargaming, system-of-systems analysis, and trade studies across performance, survivability, risk, cost, schedule, and manufacturability—while partnering with engineering, product, program, and DoD stakeholders.
Location: Washington, Dallas
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Executive & General Management
Seniority: Director level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams spanning operational analysis, survivability, communications, and integrated mission systems.
  • •Establish organizational priorities, accountability, objectives, and operating rhythms; define technical strategy, capability roadmaps, and investment priorities.
  • •Oversee development of integrated mission-system architectures for sensors, payloads, avionics, weapons, secure communications, autonomy, and aircraft survivability.
  • •Direct modeling, simulation, wargaming, and system-of-systems analysis to evaluate mission effectiveness, operational performance, emerging threats, and design alternatives.
  • •Ensure disciplined execution across requirements and architecture through hardware-in-the-loop testing, signature validation, flight test, certification, and fielding; engage stakeholders and ensure compliance with system-safety, airworthiness, cybersecurity, security, and certification requirements.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 225,000 - 340,000 annually

Key Requirements

  • •Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or another relevant technical discipline.
  • •10+ years of experience supporting complex military aircraft, autonomous systems, or other aerospace and defense programs.
  • •Demonstrated experience leading and developing a multidisciplinary engineering organization that includes people managers and senior technical leaders.
  • •Broad working knowledge across multiple disciplines including mission systems, operational analysis, modeling and simulation, survivability, secure communications, avionics, sensors/payloads, or weapons integration.
  • •Experience overseeing complex aircraft capabilities across the product lifecycle—from requirements and architecture through integration, test, certification, fielding, and sustainment.
Experience:10+ yearsAerospace and defenseMilitary aircraftAutonomous systemsUASAerospaceAutonomy
Education:Bachelor's
Skills:Executive communicationLeadershipTechnical judgmentStrategic planningRisk management

Eligibility

Nationality:US National
Security Clearance:SecretTop SecretSAP/SARSCI

Company Brief

Shield AI
Develops AI-powered autonomy and software for military aircraft and drones to enable autonomous ISR and combat missions, integrating perception, navigation, and mission planning for defense customers.
Industry: Defense Technology
Company Size: Large (251 to 1,000 employees)
Growth: Scaleup
Funding: Series E+
Headquarters: San Diego, United States
Founded: 2015
WebsiteLinkedIn