Pre-Sales Field Engineer

ZP Group•Mclean, VA

30d•$160,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

Piper Companies is seeking a Pre-Sales Field Engineer to join a North American team in a full-time, on-site role based in the Mclean, Virginia. This is a highly technical, client-facing engineering position focused on pre-sales support, field demonstrations, and deployment of advanced Counter-UAS technologies for Department of Defense (DoD) customers.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in pre-sales engineering, field support, or solutions engineering roles supporting DoD or federal clients.
Strong hands-on experience with RF, EW, SIGINT, or tactical systems in military or defense environments.
Exceptional communication and presentation skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
Proven ability to manage live field demos independently, including logistics, setup, and troubleshooting.
Familiarity with engineering concepts and field deployment of RF, electronic, or mechanical systems.
Deep understanding of DoD safety, compliance, and cybersecurity standards (e.g., RMF, NIST 800-171).
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and maintain a mission-first mindset.
Willingness to travel up to 50% across CONUS and OCONUS, including to secure and classified environments.
Comfortable working outdoors in varying conditions and supporting surge operations as needed.
Strong documentation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Basic understanding of networking, IT infrastructure, and drone-related technologies (GNSS, telemetry).
FAA Part 107 UAS Pilot Certification (or willingness to obtain post-hire).
Active DoD security clearance (Secret or higher) highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a Counter-UAS SME for DoD customers, providing hands-on support across RF-based systems and tactical platforms.
Lead technical demonstrations, field trials, and proof-of-concepts at military installations and government test ranges.
Provide technical guidance and training to DoD stakeholders, integrators, and internal teams.
Conduct environmental assessments, RF spectrum surveys, and operational studies to tailor system deployments.
Support sales and business development efforts by identifying evolving mission needs and threat trends.
Interface directly with defense clients to assess technical requirements and integration challenges.
Facilitate stakeholder coordination across acquisition officials, program offices, and mission units.
Document site visits, test results, and technical findings for internal and client use.
Ensure seamless handover of mission-critical information to Professional Services for deployment and sustainment.
Feed field insights back to product and R&D teams to inform roadmap planning and capability enhancements.
Stay current on firmware/software updates and ensure system optimization for DoD clients.
Lead installation, configuration, and validation of systems at secure DoD or partner facilities.
Translate complex technical concepts into clear, mission-relevant value for diverse audiences.