# Director, Mission Control (R4809)

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Dallas, TX
**Role:** Engineering Management
**Salary:** $160k – $250k/yr
**Experience:** 12+ years
**Skills:** Aircraft Operations, Configuration Management, Mission Planning, Fleet Management, Resource Allocation, Aviation Operations, Program Management, Operations Research, Air Operations Centers, Range Management, Airspace Coordination, Enterprise Dashboards, Fleet Tracking Systems
**Posted:** 2026-04-15

> Leads enterprise-wide fleet allocation, configuration, and operational prioritization for aircraft division, arbitrating competing demands across customer commitments, tests, and revenue goals. Requires 12+ years in aerospace/defense operations and deep aircraft/mission expertise.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Serve as enterprise authority for fleet allocation, configuration posture, and operational prioritization across Aircraft Division product lines.
- Ensure aircraft, ranges, and operational resources align with enterprise priorities, contractual obligations, revenue objectives, and mission readiness.
- Act as arbiter of competing fleet demands, balancing customer commitments, test requirements, training events, deal capture, and technology roadmap.
- Maintain enterprise fleet ledger, supervise configuration posture decisions, validate operational requirements, and oversee range allocation and mission approval processes.

## Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Engineering, Business, Operations Research, or related field.
- **12+ years** of experience in aerospace, defense, aviation operations, program management, or enterprise resource allocation roles.
- Demonstrated experience making high-impact operational decisions with financial, contractual, or revenue implications.
- Deep understanding of aircraft operations, configuration management, and mission planning principles.
- Proven ability to balance competing enterprise priorities in high-tempo, high-stakes environments.
- Experience interfacing with senior leadership, program managers, business development teams, and operational leaders.
- Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities.
- Excellent communication skills for adjudicating resource conflicts.
- Experience developing governance structures, operational processes, and decision frameworks.

## Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (MBA, M.S. in Engineering Management, or related field).
- Experience in fleet management, air operations centers, mission planning cells, or enterprise scheduling organizations.
- Prior military experience in aviation operations, air tasking orders (ATO), or operational command centers.
- Familiarity with revenue recognition models, government contract structures, and deal capture strategies.
- Experience supporting multi-product or multi-theater aircraft operations.
- Knowledge of range management, airspace coordination, and regulatory approval processes.
- Experience building enterprise dashboards, fleet tracking systems, or operational data tools.

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