Lead Program Finance (R5875)

Dallas, TexasFinance Division – Program Finance & Pricing /Full Time Employee /On-siteShield 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 . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Job Description:Shield AI is seeking a Lead Financial Analyst to support financial planning, forecasting, and business partnership across key programs and operational areas. This role will partner closely with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business Development, and Finance leadership.The ideal candidate has strong experience in financial analysis, program finance, or FP&A; thrives in a fast-paced and evolving environment; and can translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights. This individual will improve visibility into financial performance, strengthen forecasting discipline, support EAC and risk/opportunity processes, and help cross-functional teams make informed business decisions.This is a hands-on individual contributor role. The Lead Financial Analyst will be expected to build and maintain financial models, analyze performance against plan, improve reporting and financial cadences, and develop scalable processes that support Shield AI’s continued growth.What you'll do:Build, maintain, and scale financial models used for forecasting, budgeting, and long-term planningAnalyze data trends to develop business insights and deliver actionable recommendations to leadershipPartner closely with Program Management and Aircraft Ops teams to provide financial support on program health, spend trends, and headcount planningDevelop reporting cadences and dashboards to track KPIs and business performance using tools like Power BI and ExcelParticipate in the month-end and quarter-end close process, including variance analysis and executive reportingAssist with financial operational planning cycles, business reviews, and investment decision-making processesSupport data transformation initiatives and basic modeling efforts in collaboration with analytics or data engineering teamsDrive continuous process improvement by identifying automation and efficiency opportunities within financial reporting and analysisPartner with inventory and supply chain teams to monitor material movement, usage, and cost trendsCollaborate with program managers to monitor actuals vs. plan, flag risks/opportunities, and support EAC (Estimate at Completion) updatesEnsure financial alignment of day-to-day operations with long-term strategic goals through regular operational reviews and ad hoc analysisRequired qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related field5+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis, corporate finance, or FP&AAdvanced proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysisStrong understanding of US GAAP, with practical experience applying accounting principles in a government contracting or manufacturing environmentFamiliarity with cost accounting concepts and government contract structures (e.g., T&M, CPFF, FFP)Strong working knowledge of Power BI and comfort with data visualization toolsSolid understanding of financial statements and business metricsDemonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate cross-functionally in a fast-moving environmentExcellent communication skills with the ability to present complex financial data to non-financial stakeholdersPreferred qualifications:MBA or Master’s degree in a related disciplineExperience supporting operations or customer-facing teams in a manufacturing, aerospace, or tech environmentExposure to Microsoft Fabric, Power Query, DAX, or other data transformation and modeling toolsFamiliarity with ERP systems (e.g., Costpoint/Oracle) and planning tools (e.g., Vena/Anaplan)Track record of being a high performer with a bias for action, intellectual curiosity, and attention to detailPassion for using data to tell a story and drive strategic decisions$110,000 - $170,000 a year#LI-TF1#LDFull-time regular employee offer package:Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + EquityTemporary 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.###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 and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. 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.