Principal Forward Deployed Autonomous Systems Engineer

Mach
United States
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeUSD 180,000 - 210,000 annuallyFunction: IT Operations (Systems/Network Admin)Education: bachelorsSkills: ["Technical judgment","Leadership","Risk communication","Troubleshooting","Written communication"]

Lead the fielding, operation, and continuous development of autonomous defense platforms in demanding real-world environments. Own operating standards and determine operational readiness across vehicle families, personnel, equipment, procedures, and deployment packages. Provide hands-on technical leadership during flight tests, deployments, and troubleshooting across mechanical, avionics, communications, networking, flight controls, payloads, and ground systems. Translate field and customer feedback into engineering priorities while mentoring other forward-deployed engineers and delivering internal and customer training.

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FursaFursa
Mach
Mach
17 hours ago

Principal Forward Deployed Autonomous Systems Engineer

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Job Summary

Lead the fielding, operation, and continuous development of autonomous defense platforms in demanding real-world environments. Own operating standards and determine operational readiness across vehicle families, personnel, equipment, procedures, and deployment packages. Provide hands-on technical leadership during flight tests, deployments, and troubleshooting across mechanical, avionics, communications, networking, flight controls, payloads, and ground systems. Translate field and customer feedback into engineering priorities while mentoring other forward-deployed engineers and delivering internal and customer training.
Location: United States
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: IT Operations (Systems/Network Admin)
Seniority: Sr. Manager level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Establish and maintain operating standards for autonomous vehicles and supporting systems.
  • •Determine operational readiness of vehicles, personnel, equipment, procedures, and deployment packages; own readiness for an assigned vehicle family.
  • •Lead flight operations engagement with military customers, government sponsors, ranges, and external stakeholders, advising leadership on deployment readiness, technical risk, personnel requirements, and constraints.
  • •Drive product improvements by translating test, deployment, operator, and customer feedback into engineering priorities; partner with engineering and program teams to transition prototypes into repeatable, supportable products.
  • •Lead and mentor forward-deployed autonomous systems engineers, including training programs and the development/approval of operational procedures, checklists, maintenance practices, and readiness criteria; provide technical leadership during flight tests and complex troubleshooting.
Travel: High travel

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 180,000 - 210,000 annually
Equity and Bonus:Equity
Perks:Health InsuranceDentalVisionRetirement SavingsPaid LeaveLearning Budget

Key Requirements

  • •Bachelor’s degree in robotics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or other relevant STEM field (or equivalent hands-on technical experience).
  • •Extensive experience operating, integrating, testing, or fielding unmanned aircraft, autonomous systems, robotics, or similarly complex electromechanical systems.
  • •Demonstrated experience leading technical field operations, deployments, flight-test activities, or customer demonstrations.
  • •Strong understanding of complete system architectures and subsystem interactions, with advanced troubleshooting across mechanical systems, avionics, RF, networking, flight controls, and software.
  • •Experience determining operational readiness and providing risk-informed go/no-go recommendations, plus experience developing procedures, checklists, training materials, and maintenance practices.
Experience:Defense technologyAutonomous systemsUnmanned aircraftRoboticsFlight test
Education:Bachelor's
Skills:Technical judgmentLeadershipRisk communicationTroubleshootingWritten communication
Certifications:FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
Tech Stack:PX4ArduPilotQGroundControlMission PlannerLinuxGitPythonC++RustBashTactical radiosMIMOMesh networks

Eligibility

Nationality:U.S. citizenU.S. lawful, permanent residentRefugeeAsylee
Security Clearance:U.S. security clearance

Company Brief

Mach
Designs and manufactures unmanned systems, tactical engines, and decentralized defense manufacturing infrastructure (Forge) to scale production of autonomous aerial systems and related propulsion for U.S. defense customers and partners.
Industry: Defense Manufacturing
Company Size: Medium (51 to 250 employees)
Growth: Growth Stage Startup
Valuation: USD 250M to 500M
Funding: Series B
Headquarters: Huntington Beach, United States
Founded: 2023
Glassdoor
Glassdoor: 3.9
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