Pre-Sales Field Engineer - DOD, Pilot Exp

Pre-Sales Field Engineer
Virginia, USA
Job Description
We are seeking a mission-driven Pre-Sales Field Engineer to support our expanding operations across North America, with a strong focus on Department of Defense (DoD) engagements.

In this role, you will directly support our DoD and defense industry partners by enabling the deployment of cutting-edge counter-drone solutions that address today’s evolving threat landscape. As a key technical resource, you will collaborate with defense customers, integrators, and stakeholders to ensure our technology meets rigorous operational, security, and compliance standards.

Scope:
As a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on our advanced Counter-UAS technologies, the Pre-Sales Field Engineer will play a critical role in supporting DoD-focused sales efforts. This position assists account executives and program managers in qualifying the technical requirements of military and government customers, clearly articulating the operational and tactical advantages of our product suite in mission-relevant scenarios.

The Pre-Sales Field Engineer will lead technical demonstrations, address in-depth product inquiries, and ensure all DoD stakeholders are confident in the system’s capabilities and compliance posture.
This role is also responsible for the seamless handover of mission-critical information to our Professional Services Team, including details on the customer’s operational environment, threat landscape, existing infrastructure, and cyber/risk considerations, ensuring a smooth transition to deployment and sustainment phases.

Additionally, the engineer will gather and analyze field insights and lessons learned from DoD engagements, feeding this data back to product management and R&D to inform roadmap planning and capability enhancements aligned with emerging defense needs.

Specific Duties and Activities (DoD-Focused):

• Product Demonstration & Technical Briefings: Prepare and deliver tailored presentations and live demonstrations of our Counter-UAS technologies to DoD customers, program offices, and mission units.
• Conduct Field Trials & Proof-of-Concepts (POCs): Plan and execute operationally relevant POCs and field evaluations on military installations or government test ranges, ensuring alignment with mission requirements.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Effectively coordinate and communicate with DoD end-users, acquisition officials, integrators, and internal engineering/support teams to ensure successful demonstration outcomes.
• Technical Communication: Clearly convey the operational capabilities, technical specifications, and mission benefits of the Company’s systems to both technical and non-technical audiences within the defense community.
• Opportunity Development: Support sales and business development efforts by identifying evolving DoD mission needs, C-UAS threat trends, and competitive activity through field interactions and customer engagements.
• Client Engagement & Requirements Analysis: Interface directly with defense clients to assess technical requirements, operational use cases, and address complex system integration questions.
• On-Site Assessment & Field Research: Conduct environmental assessments, RF spectrum surveys, and operational studies at military or government locations to support system tailoring and successful deployment.
• Field Engineering & Deployment Support: Lead engineering activities, ensuring successful implementation of system designs in DoD or secure environments.
• System Optimization & Upgrades: Ensure familiar with firmware/software updates, and capability improvements based on mission feedback for DoD customers.
• Pre Installation & Configuration: Lead the installation, integration, and validation of new systems and technologies at DoD or partner facilities.
• Reporting & Documentation: Draft and deliver comprehensive site visit reports, test summaries, and technical findings to internal stakeholders and DoD clients.

Mandatory Requirements (DoD-Focused):

• Prior Experience: Demonstrated experience as a Pre-Sales Field Engineer, Solutions Engineer, or similar technical field role supporting defense, federal, or homeland security clients.
• Location Requirement: Must be available for a full-time, in-office position in the Washington, D.C. metro area (no remote or hybrid options).
• Customer-Facing Expertise: Exceptional interpersonal, briefing, and presentation skills with the ability to serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in technical and operational discussions with military customers, government stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Field Demo Readiness: Proven capability to manage all aspects of live system demonstrations — including logistics, safe transport of equipment, independent field setup, system operation, and real-time troubleshooting — while clearly conveying mission value.
• Military/Defense Systems Background: Strong operational or technical experience with tactical systems, RF-based technologies, EW, SIGINT, or C5ISR platforms in military or defense environments.
• Self-Motivated & Mission-Focused: Strong research and self-study abilities with the discipline to work independently and collaboratively in dynamic, high-tempo environments.
• Regional Availability: Must reside in the Washington, D.C. area and be willing to travel up to 50% across CONUS and OCONUS, including to military bases and test ranges.
• Technical Aptitude: Familiarity with engineering concepts and field deployment of RF, electronic, or mechanical systems; comfortable with troubleshooting and on-site system support.
• Safety & Compliance Awareness: Solid understanding of operational safety guidelines and standards applicable to DoD field activities.
• Attention to Detail: High level of precision in documentation, field execution, and system performance monitoring.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to brief senior leadership and technical/non-technical audiences.
• Analytical Thinking: Demonstrated ability to analyze complex technical scenarios and deliver clear, actionable solutions under pressure.
• Operational Flexibility: Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, with availability for occasional after-hours, weekend, or surge support as needed.
• Translational Communication: Ability to simplify complex technical systems into easy-to-understand concepts for diverse audiences, including operators and decision-makers.
• Customer Engagement: Natural charisma and professionalism in client interactions; confident, composed, and responsive during live engagements and field ops.
• Foundational Tech Knowledge: Basic understanding of networking, IT infrastructure, and drone-related technologies (e.g., GNSS, RF, telemetry).
• Outdoor Operations: Comfortable conducting live outdoor demonstrations, including setup, safety checks, and system debriefs.
• Hands-On Field Work: Ability to physically manage, transport, and operate demo systems and associated equipment in field conditions.
• Team Collaboration: Works effectively across cross-functional teams, fostering a strong team-oriented culture and supporting shared mission goals.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications:
• Background in supporting or working within the U.S. Department of Defense or defense contractors.
• Proven field engineering or technical pre-sales experience with C-UAS, EW, RF, or tactical systems.
• Strong understanding of DoD acquisition processes, cybersecurity requirements (e.g., RMF, NIST 800-171), and operational mission needs.
• Active DoD security clearance (Secret or higher) is highly preferred.
• Willingness to travel to military installations and classified environments.
• Part 107 UAS Pilot Certification (or willingness to obtain certificate shortly after start date)
Qualifications
Mandatory Requirements (DoD-Focused):

• Prior Experience: Demonstrated experience as a Pre-Sales Field Engineer, Solutions Engineer, or similar technical field role supporting defense, federal, or homeland security clients.
• Location Requirement: Must be available for a full-time, in-office position in the Washington, D.C. metro area (no remote or hybrid options).
• Customer-Facing Expertise: Exceptional interpersonal, briefing, and presentation skills with the ability to serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in technical and operational discussions with military customers, government stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Field Demo Readiness: Proven capability to manage all aspects of live system demonstrations — including logistics, safe transport of equipment, independent field setup, system operation, and real-time troubleshooting — while clearly conveying mission value.
• Military/Defense Systems Background: Strong operational or technical experience with tactical systems, RF-based technologies, EW, SIGINT, or C5ISR platforms in military or defense environments.
• Self-Motivated & Mission-Focused: Strong research and self-study abilities with the discipline to work independently and collaboratively in dynamic, high-tempo environments.
• Regional Availability: Must reside in the Washington, D.C. area and be willing to travel up to 50% across CONUS and OCONUS, including to military bases and test ranges.
• Technical Aptitude: Familiarity with engineering concepts and field deployment of RF, electronic, or mechanical systems; comfortable with troubleshooting and on-site system support.
• Safety & Compliance Awareness: Solid understanding of operational safety guidelines and standards applicable to DoD field activities.
• Attention to Detail: High level of precision in documentation, field execution, and system performance monitoring.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to brief senior leadership and technical/non-technical audiences.
• Analytical Thinking: Demonstrated ability to analyze complex technical scenarios and deliver clear, actionable solutions under pressure.
• Operational Flexibility: Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, with availability for occasional after-hours, weekend, or surge support as needed.
• Translational Communication: Ability to simplify complex technical systems into easy-to-understand concepts for diverse audiences, including operators and decision-makers.
• Customer Engagement: Natural charisma and professionalism in client interactions; confident, composed, and responsive during live engagements and field ops.
• Foundational Tech Knowledge: Basic understanding of networking, IT infrastructure, and drone-related technologies (e.g., GNSS, RF, telemetry).
• Outdoor Operations: Comfortable conducting live outdoor demonstrations, including setup, safety checks, and system debriefs.
• Hands-On Field Work: Ability to physically manage, transport, and operate demo systems and associated equipment in field conditions.
• Team Collaboration: Works effectively across cross-functional teams, fostering a strong team-oriented culture and supporting shared mission goals.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications:
• Background in supporting or working within the U.S. Department of Defense or defense contractors.
• Proven field engineering or technical pre-sales experience with C-UAS, EW, RF, or tactical systems.
• Strong understanding of DoD acquisition processes, cybersecurity requirements (e.g., RMF, NIST 800-171), and operational mission needs.
• Active DoD security clearance (Secret or higher) is highly preferred.
• Willingness to travel to military installations and classified environments.
• Part 107 UAS Pilot Certification (or willingness to obtain certificate shortly after start date)
Why is This a Great Opportunity
We are seeking a mission-driven Pre-Sales Field Engineer to support our expanding operations across North America, with a strong focus on Department of Defense (DoD) engagements.

In this role, you will directly support our DoD and defense industry partners by enabling the deployment of cutting-edge counter-drone solutions that address today’s evolving threat landscape. As a key technical resource, you will collaborate with defense customers, integrators, and stakeholders to ensure our technology meets rigorous operational, security, and compliance standards.

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