Skip to content

Staff Aircraft Configuration Manager (R5294)

Dallas, Texas
Full Time On-site

Shield AI is seeking an Aircraft Configuration Manager to serve as the enterprise source of truth for fleet configuration and the lead for cross-functional configuration change execution within Aircraft Division.

The Fleet Strategy & Portfolio Management function owns the configuration state of the fielded fleet across the enterprise. Where Engineering owns configuration design and baselines, Fleet Strategy closes the gap between design intent and operational reality: tracking what version each tail is actually in, reconciling discrepancies across departments, and planning the rollout of configuration updates across the fleet.

The Aircraft Configuration Manager will consolidate fragmented configuration data from across the enterprise into a single authoritative record; plan, coordinate, and track quarterly configuration update rollouts across all aircraft; serve as the primary Fleet Strategy interface to Engineering for new configurations and ECPs; and maintain audit-quality records of every configuration change. This role requires formal configuration management expertise, strong cross-functional coordination skills, and the ability to drive update campaigns to 100% fleet compliance.

What you'll do:

    Enterprise Configuration Source of Truth
  • Maintain the authoritative catalog of approved aircraft configurations across the enterprise: every variant, build standard, payload combination, and software baseline currently in operation or planned.
  • Reconcile configuration data tracked separately by Engineering, Sustainment, Customer Success, and Field Operations into a single ground-truth record.
  • Resolve discrepancies between departments and own the corrected master state.
  • Quarterly Update Planning & Execution
  • Receive configuration release packages from Engineering each quarter and build the rollout plan that determines which aircraft get updated when, by whom, and in what sequence.
  • Coordinate installation windows with Sustainment, AVOs, Field Operations, and customers on deployed aircraft.
  • Track update status from kickoff through 100% fleet compliance and report progress to Mission Control and senior leadership.
  • Cross-Functional Configuration Coordination
  • Serve as the primary Fleet Strategy interface to Engineering for new configurations, ECPs, and design changes that affect the fielded fleet.
  • Coordinate update windows with customers operating deployed aircraft.
  • Schedule Sustainment or field teams for installation activities.
  • Flag configuration constraints (eligibility, dependencies, downtime impacts) to Mission Control during fleet allocation decisions.
  • Configuration Change Records & Compliance
  • Maintain audit-quality records of every configuration change to every aircraft in the fleet.
  • Ensure compliance with contractual configuration requirements per customer and per program.
  • Support internal and customer audits with complete documentation of fielded configuration state and change history.

Required qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aviation Management, Operations Research, or related field.
  • 7+ years of experience in aerospace configuration management, program management, or fleet operations.
  • Formal configuration management experience: baselines, ECPs, TDP, change control boards.
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate cross-functional rollout plans across multiple internal organizations.
  • Strong organizational and documentation skills.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to interface across Engineering, Operations, and customer-facing organizations.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Advanced degree in Engineering Management or Systems Engineering.
  • Prior military experience in aviation maintenance, logistics, or program management with exposure to configuration management.
  • Experience managing fleet-wide software or hardware update campaigns.
  • Familiarity with V-BAT, fixed-wing UAS, or other unmanned aircraft systems.
  • Experience with PLM, ERP, or configuration tracking platforms.
  • Understanding of contractual configuration requirements in government contracts (FFP, CPFF, OTA).
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.

Go to company profile