# Program Manager

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Dallas, TX, Washington, DC
**Role:** Technical Program Management
**Salary:** $110k – $160k/yr
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Program Management, Project Financials, Critical Path Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Budget Tracking, Risk Mitigation, Secret Security Clearance, PMP
**Posted:** 2026-06-15

> Lead execution and operational maturity for global COCO unmanned aircraft system deployments supporting DoD ISR missions. Manage cross-functional stakeholders, customer relationships, budgets, schedules, and subcontractors to deliver on time and under budget.

## Job Description

## What you'll do

- Deliver proven, exceptional, and reliable performance in support of customer/end-user's mission through flawless program management
- Effectively collaborate, motivate, and lead relevant stakeholders to successfully deliver early, under budget, and with exceptional technical performance
- Manage customer relationships and act as the key point of contact for the program
- Astutely balance and rebalance shifting customer priorities related to cost, schedule, and technical parameters of programs
- Provide hands-on management of all aspects of the program
- Drive the accurate and timely tracking and reporting of budget, resource, and project management standard metrics
- Complete critical path analyses including the evaluation of potential means to accelerate the pace or mitigate identified risks
- Identify potential bottlenecks or delays in programs and drive efforts to ensure projects stay on schedule
- Partner with leadership to guide prioritization of projects and utilization of resources
- Establish and lead a consistent cadence of well-organized, well-facilitated, and effective meetings, including driving all preparation and follow up activities
- Support an environment where accountability and program execution excellence are core

## Required qualifications

- 5+ years of program management experience for Department of Defense programs
- Ability to run advanced projects/programs consisting of multiple interrelated projects, in a manner that is largely self-directed
- Proven ability to focus on long-term business objectives
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
- Experience with scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project or Smartsheet
- Excellent skills in leadership, time management, organization, team management
- Excellent interpersonal skills and verbal and written ability
- Expert understanding of complex project financials
- Demonstrated alignment with Shield AI's values and leadership principles, including accountability, trust, collaboration, and servant leadership
- Ability to obtain a Secret Security Clearance

## Preferred qualifications

- Experience supporting unmanned aerial systems, aviation operations, ISR programs, or defense technology programs
- Familiarity with aircraft sustainment, maintenance operations, or fleet management models
- Experience managing subcontractors, external service providers, or distributed operational teams
- Experience building scalable operational processes in startup or high-growth organizations
- Active Secret Security Clearance
- PMP certification or equivalent program management training
- Undergraduate degree in engineering, business, or operations management

## Similar roles

- [Technical Program Manager, FinTech](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/11acff28-c3c5-4b2d-b415-70f97f9b372b) - Veracross - Remote - $110k – $140k/yr
- [Manager, Field Operations Coordination - Spark](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/8d914241-f4de-4c65-b89c-052a748877ff) - Crusoe - Denver, CO - $110k – $135k/yr
- [Sales Dev AI Program Manager](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/b5a424b9-0b90-45ae-a21e-20136726a460) - Databricks - Remote - $109k – $150k/yr
- [Technical Delivery Manager](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/8b92b9cb-5dd2-4919-ae9a-1658b8255c3b) - Reltio - Remote - $114k – $211k/yr
- [Technical Program Manager](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/b8e0e08d-7126-4faf-bee5-f466e8c76850) - Applied Intuition - Sunnyvale, CA - $115k – $222k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/cd088d75-7cfa-4d42-9b99-b1b94d79f288
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/cd088d75-7cfa-4d42-9b99-b1b94d79f288