Senior Field Engineer

About the role

The Senior Field Engineer is a technical specialist responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, and lifecycle sustainment of airborne ISR mission systems. This role ensures continuous mission system readiness by performing hands-on troubleshooting, field-level repairs, and system validation. Working independently, the technician supports all aspects of mission equipment lifecycle management - including integration, software updates, and configuration control.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and maintain airborne ISR mission systems, including EO/IR sensor systems, tactical radios, mission computers, radar systems, data link systems, video networks, moving map software, and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) equipment.
• Perform pre-mission system checks, field-level troubleshooting, and corrective maintenance to ensure mission readiness.
• Operate and interpret data from test equipment including spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, network analyzers, and RF power meters to isolate faults and validate system performance.
• Configure and troubleshoot TCP/IP-based mission networks, including static routing, subnetting, VLAN tagging, and secure transport links.
• Detect and resolve faults across RF, power, and IP-based network interfaces using technical schematics, block diagrams, and support documentation.
• Conduct system software loads, firmware updates, and configuration management in accordance with program baselines and security requirements.
• Support integration and validation of new hardware or software packages in coordination with engineering and sustainment teams.
• Maintain proper handling and accountability of Controlled Cryptographic Items (CCI) and mission-critical Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) components.
• Ensure compliance with safety, airworthiness, and operational security protocols during all maintenance and system support activities.
• Provide detailed technical feedback and field reports to support root cause analysis, continuous improvement, and lifecycle sustainment planning.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support mission success, while leveraging clear written and verbal communication to articulate technical capabilities, limitations, support requirements, and areas for innovation.

Requirements

Minimum 8 years supporting airborne ISR mission systems, with direct integration or modification experience preferred. Strong understanding of RF signal paths, IP networking concepts, and mission system interdependencies. Experience executing software loads, firmware updates, and configuration changes in controlled baseline environments. Ability to read and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, and integration drawings. Proficient in RF test equipment usage (spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, network analyzers, & RF power meters). Strong working knowledge of radar fundamentals (GMTI, SAR, MMTI, Weather).

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or 12 years of relevant experience.
• Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of relevant experience.
• DoD 8140IAT Level 2 – IAM Level 1.
• Experience mentoring or leading small technical teams.
• Experience with configuration management principles and airworthiness approval processes.
• Demonstrated systems thinking and ability to evaluate second- and third-order impacts of decisions.
• Demonstrate professional maturity, sound judgment, and leadership potential.