Shield AI
Shield AI develops autonomous defense systems including aircraft, simulation software, and AI platforms for military and civilian protection. The company has raised $3.6B in funding and employs 1,858 people.
The growth story
Shield AI grew from 245 to 1,858 employees between 2021 and 2026, raising $3.6B along the way, most recently a Series Unknown in June 2026.
About
Shield AI builds autonomous systems for defense applications, including aircraft like the V-BAT and X-BAT, AI-driven software called Hivemind, and simulation technologies. Its products are used in global military operations to enhance safety and efficiency.
The company has secured $3.6B in funding, reflecting significant investor confidence in its defense-tech solutions. With a workforce of 1,858, Shield AI operates across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, supporting its global mission.
Founders and leadership
Engineering is the largest function at Shield AI, with 138 employees. The company’s leadership includes founders and executives with backgrounds in defense and technology, driving its focus on autonomous systems.
The Shield AI org chart
Gary Steele (Chief Executive Officer) leads 60 mapped leaders with 36 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Engineering 770 (+71% YoY), Operations 200 (+37% YoY), Information Technology 135 (+78% YoY), Program and Project Management 78 (+123% YoY), Human Resources 76 (+52% YoY), Business Development 68 (+51% YoY).
Talent flow
Shield AI recruits heavily from Amazon, Lockheed Martin, and the U.S. military, including the Navy and Air Force. Alumni often move to defense-tech firms like Anduril Industries and Lockheed Martin.
Most common previous employers of Shield AI staff: Amazon (28), Lockheed Martin (27), Splunk (23), US Navy (23), United States Air Force (19), SpaceX (19). Former Shield AI employees most often moved to Anduril Industries (22), Lockheed Martin (7), Firestorm (6), Saronic Technologies (6), Booz Allen Hamilton (6), Ironflow AI (4).
Alumni worth knowing
The Shield AI mafia
Shield AI alumni have founded 27 companies, including Tungsten Parts Wyoming, EagleNXT, and Ironflow AI, which collectively employ over 150 people.
31Mark Holden, was Vice President Of Product Management until 2022William Irby, was President VBAT until 2021Sam Jones, was Product & Engineering until 2020Mike Benitez, was Senior Director | Business Development | Product Development until 2025Andrew Dimitruk, was Chief Operations Officer until 2025Jim Carlson, was Chief Legal and Information Officer until 2025
David Zhi LuoZhang, was Software Engineering and ML Intern until 2022
Wyatt Lansford, was Machine Learning Research Engineer until 2022
Ostin Zarse, was Content and Technical Writer until 2017
Christian Mochen, was Staff Engineer until 2025
Carlo Dela Rosa, was Senior Quality Manager until 2025
Josh Harguess, Ph.D., was Senior Staff Engineer until 2020
Chris M. Ward, was Sr. Artificial Intelligence Engineer until 2020
Forrest Underwood, was Director of Product Management until 2022
Naren Ganesh Kolli, was electrical engineering until 2021
Cameron Fiore, was Software Engineer - Planning and Controls until 2025
Anshul Ahluwalia, was Senior Robotics Engineer until 2026
Scott Chaplin, was Chief Legal and People Officer until 2021
Faris Asfour, was Software Engineer until 2026
Marcin Rutkowski, was Senior Staff Software Engineer until 2024
Boris Gladstein, was Senior Staff Electrical Engineer until 2021
Audrey Nolte, was Marketing Operations Intern until 2022
Wade Dykes, was Director Information Technology Services until 2021
Paul Harris, was Vice President Business Development at Shield AI until 2025
Ben A., was Autonomous reconnaissance & combat UX • Staff Product Designer until 2024
Cooper McBride, was Senior Manager, Test Engineering until 2025Hiring now
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 32% direct, 46% search, 4% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at Shield AI: Leadership (599), Microsoft Office (548), Python (Programming Language) (510), Project Management (491), C++ (452), Microsoft Excel (423), Communication (382), Management (376).
Where the team actually sits
Shield AI people are concentrated in California, United States (114), Texas, United States (71), Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (40), United States (36). 7 offices on record.
Search footprint
Shield AI attracts about 2,186 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $11K a month if bought through ads. It gained 457 ranking keywords and lost 227 in the last period.
What employees say
- Compensation
- 3.80 / 5
- Career opportunities
- 3.70 / 5
- Senior management
- 2.90 / 5
- Work-life balance
- 2.60 / 5
Frequently asked
Shield AI has 1,858 employees as of September 2026.
Shield AI has raised $3.6B in total, most recently a Series Unknown round in June 2026.
Shield AI was founded in 2015 by Ryan Tseng 🇺🇸, Brandon Tseng.
Gary Steele (Chief Executive Officer) sits at the top of Shield AI's reporting structure, with 36 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current Shield AI staff are Amazon (28 people), Lockheed Martin (27 people), Splunk (23 people).
Former Shield AI employees most often move to Anduril Industries (22), Lockheed Martin (7), Firestorm (6).
At least 27 companies have a founder who previously worked at Shield AI, including Tungsten Parts Wyoming, EagleNXT, Method Security.
Shield AI attracts about 2,186 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $11K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among Shield AI staff are Leadership, Microsoft Office, Python (Programming Language), Project Management, C++.
Shield AI staff are concentrated in California, United States (114), Texas, United States (71), Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (40).
Shield AI has about 770 people in Engineering, up 71% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Shield AI has about 200 people in Operations, up 37% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 559 current and 665 former Shield AI profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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