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, Power Query, DAX, or other data transformation and modeling tools
Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., Costpoint/Oracle) and planning tools (e.g., Vena/Anaplan)
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

#LI-TF1 #LD
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.