Senior Staff Production Planner (Master Scheduler)

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:

Shield AI is building the world's best AI pilot. Our autonomous systems, including V-BAT and Hivemind Enterprise, operate in the most contested environments in the world. As aircraft production scales to meet growing global demand, operational rigor and production discipline are critical to delivering mission-ready systems to customers on time.


We are seeking a Master Scheduler - Aircraft Production to lead integrated production planning, Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP), forecasting, and capacity planning across our aircraft manufacturing operations.


The Master Scheduler - Aircraft Production is responsible for developing and governing the master production schedule (MPS) for Shield AI aircraft programs. This role ensures alignment between demand forecasts, SIOP decisions, material availability, manufacturing capacity, and delivery commitments.


You will serve as the central integration point between Production, Supply Chain, Finance, Program Management, and Engineering to ensure scalable, predictable aircraft output.


What you'll do:

Master Production Scheduling

• Develop and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) for aircraft builds and major subassemblies
• Align build plans with contractual delivery schedules, internal program milestones, and new design cut-ins
• Drive schedule adherence across fabrication, assembly, and test
• Monitor critical path and production constraints to prevent delivery slips

SIOP Leadership

• Co-lead the monthly Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) process
• Reconcile demand forecasts with supply, inventory, and capacity constraints
• Facilitate executive-level SIOP reviews and present scenario analyses
• Drive decision-making around production rate changes, inventory strategies, and resource tradeoffs

Forecasting & Demand Planning

• Partner with Business Development, Programs, and Finance to translate bookings and pipeline into rolling demand forecasts
• Maintain 12-24 month production outlooks
• Develop build-rate models to support growth and scaling initiatives
• Conduct what-if analysis based on order timing and customer delivery changes

Capacity Planning

• Develop and maintain capacity models for manufacturing cells, critical work centers, tooling, and labor
• Identify bottlenecks across production areas
• Support capital planning decisions for facilities, tooling, and automation investments
• Model workforce ramp plans aligned to production rate increases

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, aircraft production, or complex hardware environments
• Experience with Master Production Scheduling (MPS)
• Demonstrated ownership of SIOP processes in a manufacturing organization
• Strong background in forecasting and demand planning
• Proven experience in capacity modeling and constraint analysis
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Costpoint, etc.)
• Strong cross-functional leadership and executive communication skills
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in UAV, military aircraft, or aerospace defense production
• Experience scaling production rates in a high-growth environment
• APICS CPIM certification
• Experience with Complex BOMs
• Experience with lean manufacturing and rate-readiness planning

What sets you apart:

• You think in rates, takt time, and throughput - not just schedules
• You can translate demand volatility into executable production plans
• You are comfortable challenging assumptions in executive forums
• You bring structure and discipline to fast-scaling production environments
• You balance analytical rigor with practical shop-floor execution

Why Shield AI?

At Shield AI, production isn't just manufacturing - it's mission enablement. Every aircraft delivered increases operational autonomy in the field. This role sits at the center of scaling that impact.


If you are excited about building predictable, scalable aircraft production systems in support of next-generation autonomy, we want to hear from you.


Join us in building the world's best AI pilot.

$130,000 - $200,000 a year

#LI-JM1

#LE

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.