Chief of Staff

About the role

Aechelon Technology, a Shield AI company, is a leading producer of 3D simulator content, including Geospecific visual/sensor databases and realistic 3D models. We seek people who share our passion for real-time computer graphics and commitment to our mission of helping make our Nation's pilots safer. We will give you a chance to work with some of the most talented people in the graphics industry.

The Chief of Staff serves as a trusted partner to the General Manager of Aechelon Technology and as a bi-directional conduit of key information between the General Manager, Aechelon employees, functional teams, and Shield.

The primary focus of the role is to help implement, align and disseminate business strategy and operational priorities across Aechelon by ensuring information is communicated clearly, translated into action, and supported by a consistent feedback loop back to the General Manager. The Chief of Staff helps the General Manager stay connected to what is happening across the organization while ensuring employees and teams have the context they need to execute effectively.

This role is intentionally relationship-driven. It will require deep knowledge of Aechelon and its business strategy, trusted relationships with employees and managers, and the ability to connect information across functions. The Chief of Staff is not expected to personally own every operational task; rather, the role creates clarity, connects the right people, drives follow-through, and escalates issues when needed.

Core Responsibilities

Strategy Communication & Feedback

• Serve as a conduit for the General Manager's business strategy, priorities, decisions, and operational information across Aechelon.
• Translate high-level priorities into clear communication and actionable next steps for the appropriate teams.
• Maintain a reliable feedback loop so operational realities, employee perspectives, questions, and concerns flow back to the General Manager.
• Identify disconnects between strategic intent and day-to-day execution and help bring the right people together to resolve them.

General Manager Partnership

• Maintain visibility into key organizational priorities, decisions, commitments, and issues requiring the General Manager's attention.
• Provide organizational context and candid perspective to support informed decision-making.
• Help determine what should be escalated to the General Manager, what can be resolved through coordination, and what can be delegated to the appropriate function.
• Support selected special projects and time-sensitive priorities on behalf of the General Manager.

Employee Connection & Organizational Pulse

• Continue to establish a connection between Shield and all levels of the Aechelon team in regard to values, culture and mission as we integrate.
• Maintain a visible, approachable, and trusted connection with Aechelon employees and managers.
• Help employees navigate organizational questions and connect them with the appropriate People/HR, functional, or Shield resources.
• Surface meaningful employee themes, recurring friction points, and organizational needs while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.
• Help preserve Aechelon's culture, relationships, and sense of community as integration with Shield continues.

Cross-Functional & Shield Coordination

• Connect Aechelon and Shield teams when initiatives, decisions, or issues cross organizational boundaries.
• Clarify ownership when responsibilities are unclear and ensure the right people are included in the conversation.
• Maintain appropriate visibility into significant people, headcount, operational, and integration matters affecting Aechelon.
• Help prevent important information and action items from becoming fragmented across teams, systems, or communication channels.
• Ensure that Aechelon team members feel a valued part of the Shield team.

Scope & Working Model

The Chief of Staff is an organizational connector and force multiplier for the General Manager. The role is accountable for helping priorities move forward, but it is not intended to absorb the day-to-day responsibilities of every function.

• Own: coordination, communication, follow-through, organizational visibility, and selected priorities delegated by the General Manager.
• Partner: with teams on matters within their areas of responsibility.
• Escalate: issues requiring executive direction, business decisions, or intervention from the General Manager.
• Preserve: the employee-facing relationships and institutional knowledge that help Aechelon remain connected and effective during integration.

Qualifications & Attributes

• Ability to gain both deep knowledge of the Shield culture and mission as well as of Aechelon, its products, customers, people, culture and process,
• Establish credibility and trusted relationships across multiple levels and functions of the organization.
• Strong judgment, discretion, emotional intelligence, and ability to handle sensitive matters appropriately.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex or ambiguous information into clear direction.
• Strong organizational skills, follow-through, and ability to influence outcomes without relying solely on formal authority.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced evolving environment where responsibilities and processes may still be taking shape.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means creating a strong two-way connection between the General Manager and the Aechelon organization: strategy and operational direction move clearly across the team, execution stays visible, and useful feedback returns to the General Manager.

Employees and managers gain a trusted connection point who understands both Shield and Aechelon and can help them navigate the broader organization. Functional teams have clearer ownership and better coordination, and Shield has a knowledgeable partner who can provide Aechelon-specific context when needed.

Ultimately, the Chief of Staff allows Aechelon to execute on its strategy by being more connected, coordinated, and effective without becoming the default owner of every task or issue that crosses functions.

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits $144,320 - $216,480 per year:

• The above range is specific to CALIFORNIA and may not be applicable to other locations. Final compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.
• We offer a very attractive compensation package including competitive base salary, company performance-based profit sharing, 401k, 100% employer paid health benefits (medical, dental, vision, life, std, ltd, and life insurance plans).
• No relocation reimbursement provided.

This position description is not intended to be a complete listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee holding this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may be changed or others may be assigned at any time by the Company with notice to the employee.