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.

Job Description

The Head of Operational Excellence will lead operational excellence across Shield AI’s Group 3 UAV manufacturing in Frisco, TX (V-BAT) and Group 5 UAV manufacturing in Seattle, WA (X-BAT). Based in Frisco, this leader will create, deploy, and actively manage manufacturing KPIs and performance systems across both sites, embedding operating rhythms that improve accountability, visibility, and results.

You will be responsible for instilling a culture of execution excellence, embedding structured problem-solving practices, and delivering measurable improvements in cost, quality, delivery, and productivity. This includes leading the development and governance of operational standards—such as visual management, 5S, and root cause analysis—while owning the manufacturing budget cycle, business rhythm, and executive reporting interface across both locations. This role partners with engineering, production, quality, and business functions to execute high-priority improvement initiatives, support V-BAT production, and establish operational excellence as X-BAT progresses through prototype and into rate production.

Do you have the expertise and leadership to embed excellence into the fabric of autonomous defense manufacturing?