Staff Engineer, Digital Factory Lead (R5265)

What you'll do

• AI-Enabled Manufacturing
  • Develop and execute Shield AI's AI Manufacturing roadmap.
  • Identify opportunities to leverage AI across production, quality, maintenance, supply chain, training, and operational decision-making.
  • Deploy AI-powered solutions including intelligent work instructions, manufacturing copilots, predictive maintenance, automated root-cause analysis, and advanced analytics.
  • Partner with software and data teams to turn operational challenges into scalable technical solutions.
  • Capture and digitize manufacturing knowledge to improve workforce productivity, training, and consistency.
• Digital Factory Systems
  • Lead the deployment, configuration, and continuous improvement of Shield AI's Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
  • Establish the digital thread connecting engineering, production, quality, maintenance, and supply chain operations.
  • Drive integration between MES, ERP, PLM, QMS, factory automation systems, and manufacturing equipment.
• Connected Factory Infrastructure
  • Define and deploy the digital architecture supporting production equipment, tooling, test systems, PLCs, sensors, and industrial controls.
  • Establish factory-wide connectivity and real-time operational visibility.
  • Develop the data ecosystem required to support AI, automation, analytics, and future autonomous manufacturing capabilities.
• Factory Transformation
  • Develop and execute Shield AI's Digital Factory roadmap.
  • Lead automation initiatives across manufacturing, inspection, testing, and material flow.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies including machine vision, digital twins, autonomous inspection, and next-generation manufacturing systems.
  • Help define what aircraft manufacturing should look like over the next decade.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Automation, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in digital manufacturing, manufacturing systems, industrial automation, software-enabled operations, or Industry 4.0 environments.
• Experience implementing manufacturing software systems such as MES, QMS, maintenance, analytics, or automation platforms.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, industrial controls, factory automation, and manufacturing data systems.
• Experience working directly with software developers, system integrators, automation engineers, or data teams to deliver production-ready solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives from concept through deployment.

Preferred qualifications

• Aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, electronics, or other high-complexity manufacturing experience.
• Experience supporting greenfield factory launches or large-scale factory transformations.
• Experience applying AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, or digital twin technologies in an operational environment.
• Knowledge of AS9100, or other highly controlled manufacturing systems.