Head of Operational Excellence

Shield AI•Dallas, TX

About The Position

The Head of Operational Excellence will lead operational excellence across Shield AI’s Group 3 UAV manufacturing in Frisco, Texas (V-BAT), and Group 5 UAV manufacturing in Seattle, Washington (X-BAT). Based in Frisco, this leader will create, deploy, and manage manufacturing KPIs and performance systems across both sites, embedding operating rhythms that improve accountability, visibility, and results. The role is responsible for fostering a culture of execution excellence, structured problem-solving, and measurable improvement in cost, quality, delivery, and productivity. The position leads the development and governance of operational standards, including visual management, 5S, and root cause analysis, and owns the manufacturing budget cycle, business rhythm, and executive reporting interface across both locations. It partners with engineering, production, quality, and business functions on high-priority improvement initiatives, supports V-BAT production, and establishes operational excellence as X-BAT moves from prototype toward rate production.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field.
Experience leading operational excellence, Lean, or business office programs in 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 senior-level performance management.
Excellent communication skills and experience preparing executive-level summaries and presentations.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Create, deploy, and manage consistent manufacturing KPIs and performance dashboards across both sites to improve 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 with operations and finance teams and drive adherence to budget and cost goals.
Lead 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 suited to established production and prototype-to-rate manufacturing.
Own Manufacturing business office functions across both sites, including goal tracking, KPI dashboards, and process governance.
Coach and train teams and leaders across both sites to strengthen operational discipline, share effective practices, and sustain improvements.