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.
Job Description:
Shield AI is seeking a Logistics and Tool Control Manager to support ground and flight test execution for the X-BAT program. This role enables safe, efficient, and repeatable test operations by managing tool control, FOD prevention, calibration readiness, inventory accuracy, logistics coordination, and material traceability.
In this role, you will work closely with Test Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, Quality, Safety, Range Operations, and external suppliers to anticipate rapidly changing aircraft configurations, spare requirements, schedules, equipment usage, flight-readiness needs, and configuration updates.
What you'll do:
Manage the tool-control program for maintenance, integration, modification, ground and flight test activities.
Maintain serialized records for tools, special test equipment, calibrated devices, batteries, ground-support equipment, and other controlled assets.
Enforce tool and equipment issue, return, reconciliation, accountability, and lost-tool procedures.
Support FOD prevention through audits, walkdowns, training, trend tracking, corrective actions, and process improvements.
Maintain calibration schedules and prevent expired, damaged, or suspect measuring and test equipment from being used on flight hardware.
Build, stage, issue, and reconcile tools, parts, special test equipment, and ground and flight support kits for daily test operations.
Coordinate with Flight Test, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Safety, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Range Operations to support test readiness.
Manage weapon system spares, consumables, support hardware, ground-support equipment, and other support assets.
Oversee receiving, inspection, quarantine, storage, issuance, and return of parts, materials, and controlled equipment.
Maintain critical-spares plans, logistics readiness dashboards, shortage reports, and action trackers.
Support remote test deployments, mobile range operations, and rapid field reconstitution activities.
Lead cycle counts, inventory audits, tool audits, discrepancy investigations, and corrective actions.
Provide daily logistics readiness status, risks, and blockers to flight-test leadership.
Required qualifications:
5+ years of experience in aviation, aerospace, defense, manned or unmanned flight test, maintenance, logistics, or production operations.
Experience managing controlled tools, calibrated equipment, spares, or technical inventory.
Familiarity with FOD prevention, material traceability, and maintenance support.
Experience using inventory, ERP, CMMS, QMS, barcode, RFID, or similar asset-management systems.
Ability to work cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Test Operations, Supply Chain, Program Leadership, Quality, and Safety.
Strong documentation, audit, problem-solving, and corrective-action skills.
Detail-oriented approach with a strong commitment to tool control, logistics discipline, and process compliance.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced ground-test and flight-test environment with rapidly changing priorities.
Ability to support overtime and weekend coverage as required.
Preferred qualifications:
8+ years of experience in aviation, aerospace, defense, manned or unmanned flight test, maintenance, logistics, or production operations.
Knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, FAA, DoD/DoW, and other aerospace quality-system requirements.
Experience supporting defense programs, ITAR/EAR-controlled environments, or security-cleared environments.
Experience supporting prototype aircraft, weapon systems, or mission-critical aerospace systems.
