Head of Operational Excellence

Shield 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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. What You'll Do:

• Create, deploy, and actively manage consistent manufacturing KPIs and performance dashboards across both sites to drive visibility and accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.

• Define, train, deploy, and continually improve operational standards across V-BAT manufacturing in Frisco and X-BAT manufacturing in Seattle, including 5S, root cause analysis, and visual management.

• Develop and institutionalize the manufacturing budget process across both sites, including forecasting, controls, and performance tracking.

• Set financial targets in collaboration with operations and finance teams and drive adherence to budget and cost goals.

• Lead high-impact cross-functional improvement initiatives across both sites to improve quality, delivery, efficiency, productivity, and cost performance.

• Prepare and coordinate senior and executive-level reporting packages for Manufacturing leadership reviews.

• Partner with production, quality, and engineering teams to deploy Lean and continuous improvement practices, adapting execution to the needs of established production and prototype-to-rate manufacturing.

• Own business office functions for Manufacturing across both sites, including goal tracking, KPI dashboards, and process governance.

• Coach and train teams and leaders across both sites to elevate operational discipline, share effective practices, and sustain improvements.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field.

• Experience leading operational excellence, Lean, or business office programs within a manufacturing environment, with the ability to lead improvement across multiple sites.

• Demonstrated ability to design, roll out, and sustain structured operational standards and improvement systems.

• Strong background in budgeting, reporting, and performance management at a senior level.

• Excellent communication skills and experience preparing executive-level summaries and presentations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or formal Lean Six Sigma certification.

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware manufacturing environments.

• Proficiency with digital tools for KPI visualization, reporting automation, and business process tracking.

• Track record of influencing change across large, cross-functional manufacturing organizations and multiple sites.

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.   ###   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.