Forward Deployed Hardware Engineer

Overland AI•Seattle, WA

13h•Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a field-forward, Hardware Engineer to deploy, operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and train end-users on autonomous ground-vehicle platforms in real operational environments. This role is for someone who is most comfortable hands-on with vehicles, thrives in the field, and knows how to keep machines running when conditions are far from ideal. This is not a desk job. You will spend significant time deployed at test sites, customer locations, and operational events, working directly on vehicles, diagnosing issues, making repairs, and ensuring systems are mission-ready.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering, or a similar technical field, or 5 to 8 years of equivalent work experience.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Proven hands-on experience working with vehicles or complex hardware systems.
Strong mechanical engineering intuition and the ability to work in ambiguous environment(s).
Proficiency in one or more of the following: robotics, sensors, networking, embedded systems, electronics, off-road vehicle operations and maintenance.
Comfort working with electrical systems, sensors, wiring, connectors, and power systems.
Experience with uncrewed systems and robotics software (e.g., ROS, CAN, drive-by-wire systems).
Familiarity with autonomous system sensors (LIDAR, cameras).
Experience with programming languages such as Python or C++ is a plus.
Knowledge of field-testing protocols and safety-critical environments.
Ability to operate and problem solve independently in challenging conditions, including adverse weather and remote locations.
Thrive in dynamic, cross-functional teams and small startup environments.
Experience deploying hardware and software in defense technology, deep tech, or start up environments.
Prior experience supporting hardware during live demos, tests, or operational events.
Willingness to co-locate at testing sites or military installations for extended periods, both CONUS and OCONUS.

Responsibilities

Deploy and test autonomous vehicles and their payloads in real-world environments. When not traveling, you will be supporting payload integration and vehicle field testing between our Seattle and Central Washington State locations.
Perform hands-on troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of vehicle systems including electronics, sensors, wiring, power, networking, and mechanical interfaces. Diagnose failures under time pressure and in resource-constrained environments, then implement practical fixes to keep vehicles operational.
Contribute to hardware/software integration and enhancements, leveraging user feedback to improve autonomy capabilities.
Partner with engineers and program managers to ensure seamless deployment and alignment with end-user needs.
Maintain detailed records of field performance, documenting lessons learned and recommending improvements.
Provide on-site training and support to end users/operators on system usage, maintenance, and safety. Help ensure operational readiness before and during field deployment.