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Lead Program Finance Analyst (R4708)

Dallas, Texas
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

What you'll do:

  • Build, maintain, and scale financial models used for forecasting, budgeting, and long-term planning
  • Analyze data trends to develop business insights and deliver actionable recommendations to leadership
  • Partner closely with Program Management and Aircraft Ops teams to provide financial support on program health, spend trends, and headcount planning
  • Develop reporting cadences and dashboards to track KPIs and business performance using tools like Power BI and Excel
  • Participate in the month-end and quarter-end close process, including variance analysis and executive reporting
  • Assist with financial operational planning cycles, business reviews, and investment decision-making processes
  • Support data transformation initiatives and basic modeling efforts in collaboration with analytics or data engineering teams
  • Drive continuous process improvement by identifying automation and efficiency opportunities within financial reporting and analysis
  • Partner with inventory and supply chain teams to monitor material movement, usage, and cost trends
  • Collaborate with program managers to monitor actuals vs. plan, flag risks/opportunities, and support EAC (Estimate at Completion) updates
  • Ensure financial alignment of day-to-day operations with long-term strategic goals through regular operational reviews and ad hoc analysis

Required qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related field
  • 5+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis, corporate finance, or FP&A
  • Advanced proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis
  • Strong understanding of US GAAP, with practical experience applying accounting principles in a government contracting or manufacturing environment
  • Familiarity with cost accounting concepts and government contract structures (e.g., T&M, CPFF, FFP)
  • Strong working knowledge of Power BI and comfort with data visualization tools
  • Solid understanding of financial statements and business metrics
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate cross-functionally in a fast-moving environment
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex financial data to non-financial stakeholders

Preferred qualifications:

  • MBA or Master’s degree in a related discipline
  • Experience supporting operations or customer-facing teams in a manufacturing, aerospace, or tech environment
  • Exposure to Microsoft Fabric, Power Query, DAX, or other data transformation and modeling tools
  • Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., Costpoint) and planning tools (e.g., Vena)
  • Track record of being a high performer with a bias for action, intellectual curiosity, and attention to detail
  • Passion for using data to tell a story and drive strategic decisions
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
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. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
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, color, 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. 

About Shield AI

Shield AI

Shield AI is a defense technology company building autonomous AI systems for aircraft, drones, and intelligent mission software used in complex military environments. Founded in 2015, the company is best known for developing Hivemind, an AI pilot system that enables aircraft and drones to operate autonomously in contested and GPS-denied environments, supporting U.S. and allied defense missions.

For job seekers, Shield AI offers opportunities across advanced fields including artificial intelligence, robotics, software engineering, autonomy systems, aerospace engineering, embedded systems, and mission operations. The company is especially attractive to engineers, AI researchers, and defense professionals who want to work on real-world autonomous systems that are actively being deployed in operational military scenarios.

Unlike traditional defense contractors, Shield AI operates with a startup-style engineering culture focused on rapid experimentation, real-world testing, and fast deployment of autonomous capabilities. Employees work on tightly integrated AI and robotics systems that combine perception, decision-making, and control, enabling platforms to operate without direct human input in highly complex environments.

As modern warfare increasingly shifts toward autonomous systems, distributed sensing, and AI-enabled decision-making, Shield AI continues to grow as one of the most prominent companies in next-generation defense technology. For professionals seeking to build cutting-edge autonomy systems with direct mission impact, Shield AI stands out as a leading employer in the defense innovation ecosystem.

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