Lead, Program Finance

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.


Job Description:

Own the financial performance of novel autonomous aircraft programs, partnering directly with Program Management, Engineering, and Operations to drive execution, cost control, and informed decision-making. This role sits at the center of program delivery-shaping forecasts, influencing trade-offs, and ensuring programs scale efficiently from development through production.

What you'll do:

• Lead program financials end-to-end: forecasting, budgeting, EAC development, and variance analysis across development and production phases
• Partner with Program Managers to drive program execution, quantify risks/opportunities, and influence cost, schedule, and scope decisions
• Build and maintain integrated financial models linking labor, material, and manufacturing inputs to program outcomes
• Deliver actionable insights to senior leadership on program health, margin performance, and resource allocation
• Establish and scale KPI reporting (cost, schedule, throughput, unit economics) using Power BI, Excel, and data pipelines
• Support month-end and quarter-end close with accurate accruals, revenue recognition inputs, and variance narratives
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Manufacturing to track material usage, inventory movement, and cost drivers
• Drive automation and process improvements across financial planning, reporting, and program analytics

Required qualifications:

• 6+ years of experience in program finance or similar role within aerospace and defense environments
• Proven ownership of program financials with direct impact on EAC accuracy, cost control, and margin improvement
• Advanced financial modeling skills (Excel) with the ability to integrate operational drivers into forecasts
• Strong understanding of government contracting (FFP, CPFF, T&M) and practical application of US GAAP in a project-based environment
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with Program Management, Engineering, and Operations to influence decisions
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for senior stakeholders
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems (e.g., Costpoint) and financial planning/reporting tools (e.g., Anaplan)
• Track record of operating independently in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with high accountability

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience supporting autonomous systems, aerospace platforms, or complex hardware programs from development through production
• Deep expertise in EAC modeling, cost structure optimization, and program margin expansion
• Advanced data modeling and visualization capabilities (e.g., PowerBI)
• Experience building scalable financial infrastructure (dashboards, automated reporting, data pipelines)
• Strong grasp of finance in a production and manufacturing environment, including labor efficiency, yield, and unit cost drivers
• MBA or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field
• Demonstrated ability to influence program strategy and investment decisions at the leadership level
• High ownership mindset with a bias for action and a history of driving measurable business outcomes

$110,000 - $160,000 a year

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Full-time regular employee offer package:


Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity


Temporary employee offer package:


Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

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. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.


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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, color, 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.


We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.