Lead end-to-end technical programs for autonomous systems in Australia, managing lifecycle from concept through field testing and deployment. Coordinate customers, defence stakeholders, suppliers, and engineering teams; track earned value, mitigate risks, and ensure contractual deliverables. Support business development and international partnerships with clear communication and leadership.
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.
Shield AI is a venture-backed defence technology company building intelligent autonomous systems for aircraft. Our mission is to protect service members and civilians through AI and autonomy.
We’re looking for a Technical Program Manager to join our Port Melbourne team, leading the development, integration, and deployment of the world’s best AI pilots across a range of transformative autonomous systems (UAVs, USVs, UUVs).
This is a high-impact, hands-on role working at the centre of our growing Australian operations. You’ll manage complex engineering programmes from early concept through to field testing and deployment — and work directly with customers, defence stakeholders, and internal teams to make it happen.
What you'll do:
- Lead and deliver end-to-end technical program management leverage your industry knowledge to shape/define program and organizational objectives
- Oversee the full programme lifecycle – initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure – ensuring exceptional outcomes.
- Fulfil contractual and customer deliverables with precision, timeliness, and clarity.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government, defence, suppliers, and technical teams.
- Operate with sensitivity to cultural, political, and military dynamics across domestic and international partnerships.
- Conduct critical path analysis, manage earned value tracking, and report on programme health metrics.
- Proactively identify and mitigate risks and blockers.
- Lead organised, efficient meetings with clear actions and follow-up.
- Support business development efforts, including EOIs, RFTs, RFIs, proposals, and unsolicited submissions.
Required qualifications:
- Significant experience as a technical project or programme manager in complex engineering or technology domains.
- Proven track record of delivering complex, cross-functional projects aligned with long-term business strategy.
- Experience managing 0→1 product development cycles.
- Strong commercial understanding of project financials, including earned value management, estimates at completion, and contract data requirements.
- Proficiency in project management tools (e.g. Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Vena, Salesforce).
- Experience working with or within the Australian Defence Force.
- Outstanding communication, leadership, organisation, and influencing skills.
- A proactive, dependable, and collaborative mindset — you work hard, uphold high standards, and support your team.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with software or autonomy development programmes.
- Familiarity with the ASDEFCON (or equivalent) contracting suite.
- Exposure to multi-national teams, flight test campaigns, or airworthiness certification.
- PMP or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) accreditation.
- Experience working with or managing international defence related projects.
#LI-AN2
#LE
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
Shield Melbourne, Victoria, AUS Office
85 Salmon St, Suite 1, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3207
Similar Jobs at Shield
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Owns international People Operations across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, offboarding, employment documentation, HRIS records, payroll inputs, leave, benefits, compliance, and employee support. Coordinates with Payroll, Finance, Legal, Global Mobility, EORs, and external providers across multiple countries and time zones. The role also supports country launches, performance processes, reporting, process improvements, automation, and HR system enhancements while ensuring locally compliant and employee-centered operations.
Top Skills:
AutomationDashboardsHrisJIRAUkgWorkday
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Lead a team of software test and automation engineers supporting autonomy and aerospace products. Translate test strategy into execution, direct test automation and infrastructure architecture, and own test evidence and release recommendations. The role involves simulation, SIL, HIL, VIL, perception validation, and flight testing. Responsibilities include hands-on framework design, integration troubleshooting, team development, continuous validation, stakeholder communication, and collaboration across systems engineering, quality, perception, autonomy, and flight-test teams.
Top Skills:
ArdupilotAs9100AsdefconCameoCi/CdDef(Aust) 5679Do-178CDoorsHardware-In-The-Loop (Hil)Iso 9001JIRALinuxPolarionPx4PythonSoftware-In-The-Loop (Sil)TestrailVehicle-In-The-Loop (Vil)Windows
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Research, design, implement, and deploy deep-learning perception capabilities for autonomous and non-autonomous platforms. Develop computer vision solutions using convolutional neural networks and transformers, deploy AI systems to edge devices, build tools to scale deep learning operations, and contribute to research and development projects.
Top Skills:
CaffeComputer VisionConvolutional Neural NetworksDeep LearningEdge DevicesPyTorchTensorFlowTransformers
What you need to know about the Melbourne Tech Scene
Home to 650 biotech companies, 10 major research institutes and nine universities, Melbourne is among one of the top cities for biotech. In fact, some of the greatest medical advancements were conceptualized and developed here, including Symex Lab's "lab-on-a-chip" solution that monitors hormones to predict ovulation for conception, and Denteric's vaccine for periodontal gum disease. Yet, the thousands of people working in the city's healthtech sector are just getting started, to say nothing of the tech advancements across all other sectors.
