Field Service Engineer

Fuse Integration • San Diego, CA

7d • $70,000 - $110,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Fuse is looking for a Field Service Engineer to provide forward‑deployed support for an airborne networking pod and associated ground systems. This role focuses on hands‑on installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and sustainment of Fuse pods and expeditionary ground gateway kits in operational environments. You will work with aircrews, JICOs, network operations teams, and Fuse engineers to keep Fuse products mission‑effective: bringing the pod to Full Ops, stabilizing Link‑16 and JREAP‑C, enabling voice (VoSIP/radio‑over‑IP), and burning down integration issues under real‑world conditions. This position requires extended CONUS and OCONUS travel (up to ~75%) and support to extended sorties. Ideal candidates have experience operating or maintaining military communications systems, data links, or IP networks in the field, are comfortable working on the flightline and in secure facilities, and can systematically troubleshoot across radios, networks, crypto, and software.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to ~75% CONUS and OCONUS for extended periods, including deployment to austere locations and support to extended mission days
• 2+ years of experience in one or more of the following: Field service, avionics, or systems maintenance on military platforms.
• 2+ years of experience in one or more of the following: Tactical data links (e.g., Link‑16) or multi‑link gateway systems (e.g., TRAX, WinTAK, or similar).
• 2+ years of experience in one or more of the following: Tactical IP networking / SATCOM systems (e.g., pLEO/LEO SATCOM, WBHF, or Ku/Ka‑band terminals) in DoD environments.
• Comfortable working on and around aircraft in coordination with maintenance and ground crews.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex systems by following procedures, using logs, and collaborating with remote engineering teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to brief status and issues concisely to both operators and engineers.
• Self-starter who can operate with limited supervision, prioritize under time pressure, and maintain composure in operational environments

Nice To Haves

• Hands‑on experience with Link‑16 terminals (e.g., KOR‑24A STT, MIDS‑LVT, MIDS‑JTRS), JREAP‑C client/servers, or other tactical data link gateways (e.g., TRAX, WinTAK).
• Hands‑on experience with Type‑1 HAIPE devices (e.g., KG‑250X family or equivalent).
• Hands‑on experience with SATCOM terminals (Starlink/StarShield, WGS, commercial Ku/Ka) and tactical IP routers/firewalls (e.g., ruggedized CORE‑class systems) in deployed environments.
• Hands‑on experience with Radio‑over‑IP / VoSIP gateways (e.g., Vocality, TACLANE‑VoIP, or equivalent).
• Prior experience supporting airborne gateways, networking pods, or similar mission systems.
• Prior military service or direct support to operational units.
• Familiarity with Linux, basic command‑line tools, and web‑based management interfaces (e.g., cloud‑hosted tactical monitoring systems similar to ADSI, LMMT, and T3).
• Experience working with COMSEC/crypto teams and interpreting OPTASK LINK, theater data link guidance, and JICO‑provided network plans.

Responsibilities

• Support upload, download, and ground checks of the pod on aircraft in coordination with maintenance and GCS crews.
• Perform pod power on, BIT, and LRU checks across the integrated communications stack, including: Tactical router/switch / mission computer, Type 1 IP encryptor, Airborne IP SATCOM terminal, Link 16 tactical data link terminal, Radio over IP / voice gateway, MANET / wideband line of sight radio.
• Verify aircraft/pylon power behavior (including power cycle impacts) and execute pod recovery sequences to return to Full Ops.
• Assist with umbilical routing, connector inspections, and basic mechanical/electrical checks, escalating structural or avionics issues to the appropriate maintainers.
• Bring pod from cold start to mission ready by configuring the mission management / monitoring tool, verifying tactical data link gateway configuration, confirming crypto loads and time synchronization, and establishing JREAP-C connectivity.
• Monitor pod status during missions (including long duration sorties), track Link 16 and JREAP-C health, and execute recovery TTPs after or power events.
• Support voice integration on the pod: assist with RoIP/VoSIP gateway and Link 16 radio voice channel configuration, perform clear voice and encrypted VoSIP checks, and support handset/radio integration as directed by engineering.
• Capture flightline observations, power cycle timelines, and system behavior in daily notes to feed back into engineering and operations.
• Work with SIPR providers, DISA, and base comms teams to validate system connectivity, bandwidth, and reachability mission services.
• Assist with configuration and basic troubleshooting of JREAPC, Link‑16 net entry, and Status/data replication.
• Support local COMSEC personnel with loading and verifying keys for Link‑16 terminal, IP encryptors, and ancillary radios or SATCOM modems.
• Execute repeatable ground test sequences to reproduce and isolate issues with Power sequencing and aircraft power behavior, Network routing, bandwidth, and latency, Tactical data links, Voice services and radio audio paths, Red/Black (CT/PT) routing paths.
• Pull logs from pods, radios, routers, encryptors, and laptops and securely transfer them to Fuse engineering teams for analysis.
• Follow structured troubleshooting practices: clearly document the problem, diagnostic steps, interim workarounds, and operational impact; feed this back to engineering and leadership for defect tracking and TTP updates.
• Contribute to updates of user guides, checklists, and TTPs based on forward lessons learned and recurring field issues.
• Work directly with operators, JICOs, liaison officers, and maintainers to explain Fuse capabilities, current status, and basic operating procedures in clear, user‑focused language.
• Provide informal, on‑the‑spot training and mission‑prep walkthroughs on Fuse, the ground gateway kit, and associated monitoring/GW tools to aircrew and watch floor personnel as needed.
• Represent Fuse professionally in high‑visibility operational environments; identify pain points for the warfighter and relay them back to the product and engineering teams.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Employee coverage is fully funded; a portion of dependents' coverage is funded as well
• 11 paid Federal Holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 40 hours of paid sick leave per year
• 401k with employer matching
• Annual bonuses
• Cell phone reimbursement: $100/month

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed