Staff Engineer, Field - Maritime Systems (V-BAT) (R4361)

Shield AI•Dallas, TX

3d•$140,000 - $210,000

About The Position

Shield AI is seeking a Field Engineer to support the shipboard installation, integration, and fielding of the V-BAT unmanned aircraft system on maritime platforms. This role sits at the intersection of hardware integration, RF systems, and customer operations, and is critical to ensuring successful deployment, system performance, and customer confidence in operational environments. The ideal candidate is hands-on, adaptable, comfortable working aboard ships, and capable of serving as a technical authority in forward-deployed and customer-facing environments.

Requirements

B.S. degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) discipline, such as Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering.
Experience with field installation, integration, or sustainment of complex electromechanical or RF systems.
Hands-on experience with radios, antennas, cabling, and networking equipment.
Ability to troubleshoot hardware, integration, and RF issues in operational environments.
Comfort working aboard ships and in maritime or deployed settings.
Strong communication skills and ability to work directly with customers and operators.
Willingness to travel extensively, including shipboard deployments.

Nice To Haves

Experience with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/UAV) or aerospace platforms.
Familiarity with shipboard systems, maritime safety standards, and EMI/EMC considerations.
RF testing experience (spectrum analysis, link testing, interference mitigation).
Prior military, defense, or maritime operations experience.
Experience providing feedback to engineering teams to improve fielded systems.

Responsibilities

Shipboard Installation & Integration
Install and integrate the V-BAT UAV system on maritime platforms, including:
Air vehicle support equipment
Radios and networking components
Antennas, cabling, and mounting hardware
Ensure installations comply with shipboard safety standards, EMI/EMC requirements, and platform-specific operational constraints.
Execute installations in confined, austere, and operational shipboard environments.
Radio Configuration & Calibration
Configure, calibrate, and validate communication systems, including LOS and BLOS radios, antennas, and associated networking hardware.
Perform link testing, spectrum checks, and interference mitigation in complex maritime RF environments.
Support troubleshooting and optimization of RF performance during shipboard operations.
Customer & Platform Coordination
Work directly with customers, ship crews, and program stakeholders to understand ship-unique requirements and operational needs.
Adapt installation approaches and system configurations to platform-specific constraints while maintaining system performance, safety, and compliance.
Serve as a technical interface between Shield AI, the customer, and the operating platform.
System Checkout & Verification
Conduct post-installation inspections, functional testing, and system verification to ensure operational readiness.
Support system acceptance activities and operational demonstrations as required.
Documentation & Reporting
Document installation configurations, calibration data, deviations, and lessons learned.
Generate clear technical reports and provide feedback to engineering and program teams to support continuous improvement and design evolution.
Field Support & Troubleshooting
Diagnose and resolve hardware, integration, and RF issues in deployed and shipboard environments.
Provide on-site technical support during fielding, training, and operational events.
Serve as a professional technical representative of the program during customer engagements.
Flight Test & System Test Support (As Needed)
Support and assist with flight testing activities under the System Test team during off-ship periods, as operational schedules allow.
Participate in system checkout, ground testing, and developmental or regression flight test activities to support system verification and readiness.
Provide field-driven integration and RF insights to System Test and Engineering teams to improve test coverage, procedures, and system robustness.