Senior Production Planner; Master Scheduler; R4998

Job Description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. Visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).

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Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilot. Our autonomous systems, including V-BAT and Hivemind Enterprise, operate in the most contested environments in the world. As aircraft production scales to meet growing global demand, operational rigor and production discipline are critical to delivering mission‑ready systems to customers on time.

We are seeking a Master Scheduler – Aircraft Production to lead integrated production planning, Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP), forecasting, and capacity planning across our aircraft manufacturing operations.

The Master Scheduler – Aircraft Production is responsible for developing and governing the master production schedule (MPS) for Shield AI aircraft programs. This role ensures alignment between demand forecasts, SIOP decisions, material availability, manufacturing capacity, and delivery commitments.

You will serve as the central integration point between Production, Supply Chain, Finance, Program Management, and Engineering to ensure scalable, predictable aircraft output.

Master Production Scheduling

• Develop and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) for aircraft builds and major subassemblies
• Align build plans with contractual delivery schedules, internal program milestones, and new design cut‑ins
• Drive schedule adherence across fabrication, assembly, and test
• Monitor critical path and production constraints to prevent delivery slips

SIOP Leadership

• Co‑lead the monthly Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) process
• Reconcile demand forecasts with supply, inventory, and capacity constraints
• Facilitate executive‑level SIOP reviews and present scenario analyses
• Drive decision‑making around production rate changes, inventory strategies, and resource trade‑offs

Forecasting & Demand Planning

• Partner with Business Development, Programs, and Finance to translate bookings and pipeline into rolling demand forecasts
• Maintain 12–24 month production outlooks
• Develop build‑rate models to support growth and scaling initiatives
• Conduct what‑if analysis based on order timing and customer delivery changes

Capacity Planning

• Develop and maintain capacity models for manufacturing cells, critical work centers, tooling, and labor
• Identify bottlenecks across production areas
• Support capital planning decisions for facilities, tooling, and automation investments
• Model workforce ramp plans aligned to production rate increases

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, aircraft production, or complex hardware environments
• Experience with Master Production Scheduling (MPS)
• Demonstrated ownership of SIOP processes in a manufacturing organization
• Strong background in forecasting and demand planning
• Proven experience in capacity modeling and constraint analysis
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Net Suite, Costpoint, etc.)
• Strong cross‑functional leadership and executive communication skills
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance

• Experience in UAV, military aircraft, or aerospace defense production
• Experience scaling production rates in a high‑growth environment
• APICS CPIM certification
• Experience with Complex BOMs
• Experience with lean manufacturing and rate‑readiness planning

• You think in rates, takt time, and throughput — not just schedules
• You can translate demand volatility into executable production plans
• You are comfortable challenging assumptions in executive forums
• You bring structure and discipline to fast‑scaling production environments
• You balance analytical rigor…