Field Applications Engineer

Location: Onsite — Austin, TX Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full-Time Job Title: Field Applications Engineer About 9 Mothers The modern battlefield has changed. Cheap, autonomous suicide drones have turned the tactical advantage upside down, and the world is looking for a solution. At 9 Mothers, we aren’t just "innovating"—we are building the shield. Backed by top-tier investors, we develop AI powered machines designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real-time. Our flagship product is a low-power, counter-drone system built for the edge—on vehicles, at bases, or in a soldier's pack. Why 9 Mothers? While others build for "awareness" or "long-term research," we build for the immediate survival of those in harm’s way. We are a team of hackers, engineers, and mission-driven builders who value field-ready capability over polished slide decks. If you want to see your code or hardware in the field next month—not next year—this is your playground. Position Summary We are seeking a Field Applications Engineer (Demo Engineer) to serve as the critical bridge between our engineering lab and real-world deployment. You will be the hands-on expert responsible for bringing our autonomous c-sUAS platforms to life in front of active-duty end users, government partners, and key stakeholders. From flashing software builds and calibrating multi-sensor payloads in the lab to operating systems and troubleshooting hardware live on the test range, you ensure zero-fail execution when the pressure is on. Essential Duties Demo Operations & Execution: Lead live, dynamic flight and target-tracking demonstrations in field environments, operating autonomous counter-drone systems flawlessly under high-stakes conditions. System Preparation & Hardware Setup: Prepare, assemble, and check complex autonomous hardware and edge-compute systems prior to field tests and customer demonstrations. On-Site & Field Calibration: Perform precise hardware and sensor alignment, including boresighting, thermal/EO camera focusing, lens calibration, and multi-sensor orientation. Software Deployment & Validation: Flash latest software builds, test system stability, perform integration tests, and ensure firmware/software readiness for field trials. Rapid Field Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve unexpected hardware, software, networking, and sensor issues on the fly with minimal downtime during field trials. Feedback Loop: Serve as the direct link between field reality and R&D, capturing detailed telemetry, edge cases, and user feedback to inform engineering rapid iteration cycles. Linux Shell & Networking: Highly comfortable working in a Linux shell environment with a strong understanding of TCP/IP networking, routing, and system diagnostics. Requirements Hands-on Field/Demo Experience: Demonstrated experience deploying, operating, or troubleshooting complex hardware/software systems in real-world or live-fire test range environments. Technical Calibration Skills: Practical experience with optical/camera calibration (focus, boresighting), sensor alignment, and field validation techniques. System Administration & Tooling: Proficient in Linux CLI environments, firmware/software flashing tools, and basic networking/telemetry debugging. Hardware & Electronics Proficiency: Experience with harness assembly, field repair, cable building, and multimeters/oscilloscopes for quick edge-side hardware fixes. Travel & Physical Requirements: Willingness to travel to outdoor testing sites and demonstration ranges; comfortable working outdoors in varying terrain and weather conditions. Compliance: This position requires access to export-controlled information under ITAR. Only U.S. citizens are permitted. Must be willing to submit a background check. Nice-to-Have Prior experience with robotics, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), counter-UAS (c-UAS), or defense range operations. Familiarity with thermal/IR optics, RF sensors, or embedded Linux environments (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson). Pr