Senior Staff Technical Program Manager (R5595)

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.