Forward Deployed Infrastructure Engineer

Quartermaster • Arlington, VA

41d

About The Position

At Quartermaster, we are closing the intelligence blindspots across the world’s oceans. We transform maritime fleets into a persistent sensing layer, deploying advanced edge-compute nodes equipped with high-definition cameras, Software Defined Radios (SDRs), and edge AI processors, all backhauled via Starlink. We operate in the most remote environments on earth, processing massive amounts of RF and visual data at the edge to deliver real-time maritime domain awareness.

The Role
We are looking for a Forward Deployed Infrastructure Engineer to take ownership of our sensor fleet the moment it gets bolted to a ship.

While technicians handle the physical installation, you are responsible for the remote setup, orchestration, and continuous operation of these complex, distributed systems. You will build the infrastructure that allows a newly installed, offline box to wake up, phone home via Starlink, configure its cameras and SDRs, and seamlessly join our global intelligence network.

You won't just be managing cloud servers; you will be debugging remote hardware interfaces, optimizing data flows over satellite networks, and building the automation that keeps our maritime edge reliable when weather, power, and connectivity are hostile.

Requirements

• Linux & Systems Mastery: Deep, hands-on expertise in Linux systems administration, bash scripting, and systemd. You know how to keep a headless Linux box alive.
• Advanced Networking: Strong fundamental knowledge of TCP/IP, NAT traversal, VPNs, routing, and dealing with the quirks of satellite/CGNAT networks.
• Containerization at the Edge: Proven experience running containerized workloads (Docker, K3s, IoT edge runtimes) in resource-constrained environments.
• Infrastructure as Code: Fluency in IaC tools (Terraform, Ansible) and strong programming skills (Python or Go) to automate everything.
• Resilience Mindset: You build systems assuming the network will drop, the power will cycle, and the hardware will misbehave.

Nice To Haves

• Hardware/Sensor Experience: Familiarity with managing video streaming pipelines (RTSP, WebRTC, GStreamer, ffmpeg).
• RF/SDR Knowledge: Experience working with Software Defined Radios, GNU Radio, or processing RF telemetry.
• Maritime Tech: Knowledge of maritime protocols like AIS (Automatic Identification System) or NMEA data.
• Clearance: Active US Security Clearance (or eligibility/willingness to obtain one).

Responsibilities

• Remote Provisioning & Orchestration: Build and manage the "zero-touch" or low-touch provisioning pipelines that remotely configure edge nodes, activate Starlink connections, and calibrate cameras and SDRs immediately after physical installation.
• Edge-to-Cloud Infrastructure: Design and maintain the infrastructure bridging our cloud backend (AWS/GCP) with our distributed maritime fleet.
• Satcom Network Optimization: Architect robust networking solutions (VPNs, SD-WAN, Tailscale/Wireguard) to reliably transport telemetry, heavy video streams, and RF data over variable Starlink maritime connections.
• Over-The-Air (OTA) Management: Develop secure, bulletproof deployment systems for pushing software updates, AI models, and configuration changes to hundreds of remote nodes without bricking them.
• Remote Troubleshooting: Act as the ultimate escalation point for edge node health. You will independently debug Linux systems, container crashes, and hardware-software integration issues from thousands of miles away.

Benefits

• Mission-Critical Impact: Your infrastructure will directly secure the world’s oceans, powering real-time intelligence for safety and defense.
• Unique Technical Challenges: Leave standard CRUD apps behind. Solve novel problems involving hardware, RF, video AI, and satellite networks.
• Startup Agility: A high-autonomy environment with competitive compensation, equity, and the opportunity to define our engineering culture.

What This Job Offers

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