Field Application Engineer

Applications Engineer – Systems Integration Engineer

Location: Germantown, MD (On-site with 40% travel)

Salary: $100,000 - $120,000 + Annual Bonus

Overview

Seeking a customer-facing Applications/Integration Engineer to own the integration, testing, and troubleshooting of EO/IR payloads within customer platforms. This role serves as the technical bridge between the engineering teams, U.S.-based customers, and prime contractors.

Will be responsible for end-to-end system integration, working across hardware, software, and mechanical interfaces, and will act as the primary technical point of contact during integrations, deployments, and field support.

This is a hands-on, high-visibility role requiring strong systems thinking, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues in real-world customer environments.

Core Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Engineering, or related field)

3+ years of experience in systems engineering, integration, test engineering, or field engineering roles

Hands-on experience with system-level integration and troubleshooting

Ability to operate without detailed manuals in dynamic environments

Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving skills

Ability to travel 40% annually based upon needs, with 2-3 weeks of initial training internationally

Experience working with integrated hardware systems (components, subsystems, payloads, or platforms)

Electrical wiring, connectors, and harnesses

Power distribution and signal flow

Mechanical interfaces and physical integration

Comfort performing assembly/disassembly and field diagnostics

Experience supporting software-enabled systems or SDK-based integrations

Understanding of communication protocols, data/message flow, and system interfaces

Experience in troubleshooting software issues related to upgrades or configuration

Experience executing or supporting test procedures and system validation

Ability to interpret test data and communicate results clearly

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with EO/IR, ISR, radar, sensor, UAV, or defense systems

Experience working with government, defense, or security customers

Prior customer-facing technical role (Field Engineer, Systems Integrator, Solutions Engineer)

Experience supporting international engineering teams

Familiarity with UAV, maritime, vehicle, or other surveillance platforms

Key Responsibilities

System & Payload Integration

Lead integration of EO/IR payloads into customer platforms

Understand and validate payload-to-platform interfaces, including power, data, mechanical, and communication protocols

Support both prime and sub-contractor integration scenarios

Translating customer system requirements into actionable technical execution

Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis

Perform system-level troubleshooting to identify whether issues originate at the component, subsystem, or interface level

Analyze test outputs, logs, and data to determine root cause and corrective actions

Decide whether issues require:

Component replacement

Subsystem removal

Escalation to engineering teams

Support rapid issue resolution during factory testing, integration testing, and field deployments

Hardware & Hands-On Technical Work

Perform assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of payloads and integrated systems

Trace electrical wiring, connectors, and harnesses to isolate faults

Validate proper power delivery, signal flow, and mechanical connections

Support physical inspections and system validation at customer sites

Software & SDK Integration Support

Support software and SDK-based integrations between payloads and customer systems

Troubleshoot communication issues, data/message flow, and integration mismatches

Work with software engineers to resolve bugs related to upgrades, versioning, or configuration

Interpret logs and error messages to support integration debugging

Testing & Validation

Execute and support defined test procedures for payloads and integrated systems

Troubleshoot communication issues, data/message flow, and integration mismatches

Work with software engineers to resolve bugs related to upgrades, versioning, or configuration

Interpret logs and error messages to support integration debugging

Customer & Internal Collaboration

Serve as the primary technical interface with customers during integrations

Clearly explain technical issues, risks, and resolutions to non-specialist stakeholders

Coordinate closely with engineering teams in Israel and U.S. program stakeholders

Support training, documentation, and knowledge transfer activities

Personal Attributes for Success

Self-starter with strong initiative and an ownership mindset

Comfortable wearing multiple hats in a fast-moving environment

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to build trust with customers and internal stakeholders

Adaptable, curious, and motivated to deeply understand complex systems

Training & Travel

Initial onboarding and technical training in Israel (2–3 weeks)

Ongoing collaboration with international engineering teams

Periodic international and domestic travel for customer support and training (40% annual average)