Director, Mission Control (R4809)

Shield AI•Dallas, TX

15h•$160,000 - $250,000

About The Position

Shield AI is seeking a Director of Mission Control to serve as the enterprise authority for fleet allocation, configuration posture, and operational prioritization across all Aircraft Division product lines. Mission Control is responsible for ensuring aircraft, ranges, and operational resources are allocated in alignment with enterprise priorities, contractual obligations, revenue objectives, and mission readiness requirements. This role serves as the authoritative arbiter of competing fleet demands, balancing customer commitments, test requirements, training events, deal capture activities, and long-term technology roadmap objectives. The Director will maintain the enterprise fleet ledger, supervise configuration posture decisions, validate operational requirements, and oversee range allocation and mission approval processes. This role requires deep understanding of Shield AI’s business model, contract structures, market dynamics, aircraft configurations, and cross-functional interdependencies. Decisions made within Mission Control carry significant operational and financial impact.

Requirements

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 with the ability to synthesize operational, financial, and strategic inputs.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to adjudicate resource conflicts with clarity and authority.
Experience developing governance structures, operational processes, and decision frameworks.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Ensuring aircraft, ranges, and operational resources are allocated in alignment with enterprise priorities, contractual obligations, revenue objectives, and mission readiness requirements.
Serving as the authoritative arbiter of competing fleet demands, balancing customer commitments, test requirements, training events, deal capture activities, and long-term technology roadmap objectives.
Maintaining the enterprise fleet ledger
Supervising configuration posture decisions
Validating operational requirements
Overseeing range allocation and mission approval processes.