Head of Aircraft Production (R6147)
Seattle · USD 230,000-340,000 / year · 10+ years experience · Onsite · Posted Sep 29, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 10+ years experience
- Workplace
- Onsite
- Location
- Seattle
- Salary
- USD 230,000-340,000 / year · OTE
About the role
- Shield AI is seeking a Head of Aircraft Production for their Seattle location to lead prototype builds, new product introduction, and scale aircraft production.
- The role involves establishing the Seattle production operation, leading manufacturing setup, operational readiness, and the production organization.
Responsibilities
- Own the day-to-day execution of X-BAT prototype and development aircraft builds, including assembly, integration, rework and build support for testing.
- Partner with Program Management to establish achievable build schedules, resource plans and milestones, making constraints and trade-offs visible early.
- Work with Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering through build-test-learn cycles, ensuring build issues are captured, resolved and reflected in future designs and production processes.
- Plan and execute pre-series builds to prove tooling, work instructions, material flow, process controls and workforce readiness before production ramp.
- Maintain configuration discipline and aircraft traceability throughout development builds in partnership with Engineering and Quality.
- Lead manufacturing setup and operational readiness for X-Forge 3, working with Facilities and Manufacturing Engineering on factory layout, equipment installation, commissioning and production flow.
- Recruit, develop and lead the production organization, building capable frontline leadership and a skilled aircraft assembly team.
- Own production staffing, training and capacity plans, aligning investment and workforce growth with program demand.
- Own production execution against safety, quality, delivery and cost targets as X-BAT moves through initial production and into sustained rate.
- Improve throughput, labor productivity, first-pass quality and schedule adherence through practical Lean methods and structured problem-solving.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing or a related technical field.
- 10+ years of experience in aerospace or comparable advanced manufacturing, including at least 5 years leading production teams.
- Demonstrated experience leading prototype or new product introduction builds and carrying a product into sustained production.
- Proven ability to build and scale manufacturing operations, including workforce development, capacity planning and production systems.
- Experience leading complex assembly and integration operations with demanding quality, configuration and traceability requirements.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing readiness, tooling validation, material coordination and production launch.
- Track record of improving safety, quality, delivery and cost through Lean manufacturing and structured problem-solving.
- Ability to lead across Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain and Program Management, resolving competing priorities and driving clear accountability.
- A hands-on leadership style, with the ability to move between long-term factory planning and detailed problem-solving on the floor.
Preferred qualifications
- Direct experience taking a new aircraft program from prototype through initial and rate production.
- Experience establishing a new manufacturing facility or transferring production between sites.
- Experience in aircraft final assembly, systems integration and production test.
- Familiarity with aerospace quality systems, including AS9100, and digital manufacturing and traceability tools.
- Experience managing production interfaces with outsourced manufacturing partners and complex supplier networks.
- Advanced degree or relevant training in manufacturing leadership, program management or production launch.
Benefits
- Bonus
- Benefits
- Equity
Skills
- Lean Manufacturing
- AS9100
- Digital Manufacturing Tools
