Head of Operational Excellence

Shield AI•Dallas, TX

6d•$173,760 - $260,640•Onsite

About The Position

Shield AI is hiring a Head of Operational Excellence to lead operational excellence across Group 3 UAV manufacturing in Frisco, Texas (V-BAT) and Group 5 UAV manufacturing in Seattle, Washington (X-BAT). The role is based in Frisco and is responsible for developing and managing manufacturing KPIs and performance systems across both sites, establishing operating rhythms that improve accountability, visibility, and results. The position will foster a culture of execution excellence and structured problem-solving, delivering measurable improvements in cost, quality, delivery, and productivity. It will lead the development and governance of operational standards, including visual management, 5S, and root cause analysis, and own the manufacturing budget cycle, business rhythm, and executive reporting interface across both locations. The role partners with engineering, production, quality, and business functions to execute improvement initiatives, support V-BAT production, and establish operational excellence as X-BAT advances from prototype to rate production.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field.
Experience leading operational excellence, Lean, or business office programs within a manufacturing environment, including leading improvements across multiple sites.
Demonstrated ability to design, roll out, and sustain structured operational standards and improvement systems.
Strong background in budgeting, reporting, and performance management at a senior level.
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 for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
Define, train, deploy, and continually improve operational standards, 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.