Lead Program Finance (R5875)

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 Lead Financial Analyst to support financial planning, forecasting, and business partnership across key programs and operational areas. This role will partner closely with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business Development, and Finance leadership. The ideal candidate has strong experience in financial analysis, program finance, or FP&A; thrives in a fast-paced and evolving environment; and can translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights. This individual will improve visibility into financial performance, strengthen forecasting discipline, support EAC and risk/opportunity processes, and help cross-functional teams make informed business decisions. This is a hands-on individual contributor role. The Lead Financial Analyst will be expected to build and maintain financial models, analyze performance against plan, improve reporting and financial cadences, and develop scalable processes that support Shield AI’s continued growth.

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, P …