{"id":1908412,"url":"https://alion.io/job/blue-ops-field-test-engineering-lead","title":"Field Test Engineering Lead","company":{"id":2335094,"name":"Blue Ops","domain":"blueops.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/blueops","size_band":"11-50","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Paycom","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":[],"countries":[],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"ArduPilot","optional":true},{"name":"MAVLink","optional":true},{"name":"Obstacle Avoidance","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-05T13:44:49Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-05","last_verified_at":"2026-10-12T04:24:29Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":6,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":6},"description":"Position Summary\nBlue Ops designs, builds, and fields autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for defense and national security customers. We are seeking a hands-on field engineer who can operate in two closely coupled capacities: as a Field Test Engineer who plans, instruments, executes, and reports on at-sea and shoreside test events, and as an Engineering Technician Lead who provides technical direction to the technician workforce responsible for building, integrating, commissioning, maintaining, and repairing the fleet.\nThis is a dual-purpose role for someone who is equally comfortable authoring a test plan and running the data reduction behind it and standing in the bilge at 0500 with a multimeter tracing an intermittent NMEA 2000 fault before the boat launches. We are looking for the kind of field engineer who works independently at customer, OEM, and partner sites, drives problems through to full resolution rather than handing them off, documents what was done so the next person can repeat it, and picks up unfamiliar hardware and software platforms quickly. The successful candidate is the person who makes test events happen on schedule, with instrumented vessels, complete data, and a technician team that knows exactly what it is doing and why.\nKey Responsibilities\nEngineering Technician Leadership\nLead, schedule, and mentor a team of engineering technicians across vessel build, integration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair activities at multiple Florida sites.\nProvide technical direction to engineering technicians and determine priorities, methods, and standards for execution of work.\nOwn the daily work plan for the technician team: assign tasks, sequence work against test and delivery schedules, verify quality of completed work, and escalate resource and schedule risk early.\nConduct performance reviews for assigned technician personnel, set development goals, and support hiring and onboarding of new technicians.\nDevelop and approve engineering test procedures, acceptance criteria, and corrective actions.\nEstablish and enforce shop and field standards for workmanship, including marine electrical practice, connectorization and strain relief, sealing and corrosion control, torque and fastener control, and cable routing and labeling.\nDirect installation, integration, and checkout of vessel systems: propulsion and drivetrain, steering and actuation, autopilot and flight controller hardware, power distribution, NMEA 2000 and CAN networks, RF and SATCOM equipment, radar, AIS, EO/IR, and onboard compute.\nDevelop and maintain build travelers, wiring diagrams, integration checklists, pre-operation and post-operation checkout procedures, calibration and configuration instructions, and maintenance documentation; drive their consistent use in the field.\nLead troubleshooting of complex, cross-domain faults - mechanical, electrical, communications network, RF, sensor, power, wiring, and software - using disciplined root-cause analysis rather than parts swapping, and drive each issue through to full resolution.\nManage tooling, test equipment, calibration, spares, and consumables across sites; forecast material needs against the test and delivery schedule.\nOwn shop and on-water safety practice for technician activities, including lockout/tagout, lifting and launch/recovery operations, battery and fuel handling, and personal protective equipment.\nDeliver hands-on technical training to technicians, operators, and end users covering safe operation, troubleshooting, and long-term system reliability, and build the written knowledge base so capability is not resident in a single person.\nCross-Cutting\nServe as the connective tissue between engineering, operations, and production - translating engineering intent into executable field work and field reality back into engineering requirements.\nSupport customer site visits, government test events, and OCONUS deployments as the on-site technical authority for vessel readiness and test execution, representing Blue Ops professionally to customers, partners, and vendors.\nCoordinate directly with OEMs, suppliers, and integration partners on component failures, warranty actions, firmware issues, and design feedback.\nContribute to proposals, statements of work, test cost and schedule estimates, and program reviews.\nSupport compliance with applicable export control (ITAR/EAR), security, and quality requirements.\nRequired Qualifications\nHigh school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Ocean, Systems, or Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline, preferred.\nFive or more years of hands-on experience in field service, field testing, systems integration, or technical operations of complex electronic and electromechanical systems; ten or more years preferred. Marine, unmanned systems, aerospace, or defense experience strongly preferred.\nDemonstrated experience diagnosing hardware, software, communications network, sensor, power, wiring, and system-integration failures using structured troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.\nDemonstrated experience planning and executing formal test, commissioning, or acceptance events, including writing procedures and reporting results to a technical audience.\nDemonstrated experience leading, directing, or supervising technicians, installers, mechanics, or a field crew.\nStrong practical skills across mechanical assembly, marine and low-voltage DC electrical work, wiring and connectorization, networked electronics, and use of hand tools, power tools, and diagnostic equipment including multimeters and oscilloscopes.\nWorking proficiency in data analysis and scripting (Python, MATLAB, or equivalent) sufficient to reduce and interpret field data independently, or demonstrated ability and willingness to develop it.\nProven ability to operate independently in high-pressure field environments, manage competing priorities and travel, and communicate status clearly to customers and internal stakeholders.\nDemonstrated ability to learn new hardware and software platforms rapidly and become the resident expert on them.\nComfort working on and around small vessels in an open-ocean and coastal environment, including extended days underway.\nExcellent written communication - this role produces documents that customers and government stakeholders read.\nValid U.S. driver's license; ability to tow and launch trailered vessels or willingness to be trained and qualified.\nMust be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense SECRET security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, and must successfully pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening.\nMust be authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.\nPreferred Qualifications\nActive or current DoD SECRET (or higher) security clearance.\nTen or more years of progressive field service, marine electronics, or field engineering experience.\nManufacturer or OEM technical certifications in marine electronics, navigation, satellite communications, or sensor products (for example Garmin, Airmar, Intellian VSAT/FBB/TVRO, GOST, or comparable programs).\nExperience providing field engineering or service support at OEM, boatbuilder, dealer, and end-customer locations, including direct coordination with engineering and product teams.\nDirect experience with unmanned surface, underwater, ground, or air vehicles, particularly autonomy and remote-operations testing.\nHands-on experience building, configuring, and troubleshooting UAV, multirotor, or FPV platforms - flight controllers, ESCs, motors, GPS, radio and telemetry links, video, sensors, and power distribution.\nExperience with ArduPilot/ArduRover, PX4, MAVLink, or comparable autopilot ecosystems, including parameter tuning and log analysis.\nFamiliarity with marine electronics and networks: NMEA 2000/CAN, marine radar, AIS, EO/IR cameras, GNSS/INS, and SATCOM including Starlink maritime.\nExperience with marine propulsion, steering, and vessel-control systems - outboards, sterndrives, and associated controls, actuation, and diagnostics.\nExperience with COLREGS-based navigation testing, collision and obstacle avoidance evaluation, or maritime autonomy assessment.\ntimes\nPrecision mechanical or structural fabrication background - aerostructures, machining, fitting, or fixture work with dimensional verification.\nUSCG credential, professional mariner experience, or small-boat operator qualification; Navy, Coast Guard, or other maritime military background.\nExperience with CAD, engineering drawing practice, and configuration management.\nPrior experience supporting OCONUS deployments or expeditionary field operations.\nTravel, Location and Schedule\nThrough the end of the current calendar year, this position will work across Blue Ops facilities and operating areas in West Palm Beach, Stuart, and Fort Pierce, Florida, with routine movement between sites.\nEffective at the start of the following calendar year, Fort Pierce, Florida is the permanent duty location for this role.\nTravel is expected up to 50%, including CONUS customer sites, government test ranges, and OCONUS locations. Travel is often driven by test and demonstration schedules and can be scheduled on short notice.\nTest operations are schedule- and weather-driven. Early starts, extended days, and occasional weekend or holiday work are expected around test windows, deliveries, and demonstrations.\nA valid U.S. passport, or the ability to obtain one, is required.\nPhysical Requirements and Working Conditions\nMust be able to walk, stand, and navigate large indoor and outdoor facilities for extended periods of time. \nAbility to lift, carry, and move materials and equipment weighing up to 25 lbs on a regular basis. \nUse of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required in designated areas or when performing specific tasks, in accordance with safety protocols and company policy. \nMay be required to climb ladders, stoop, kneel, or crouch during inspections, maintenance walk-throughs, or emergency response situations. \nRegular exposure to facility operations including noise, dust, temperature fluctuations, and industrial equipment. \nOccasional off-hours or weekend work required for emergency facility responses or projects as needed \nRequires frequent use of a computer and other standard office equipment for documentation, communication, and coordination tasks.\nWhat Success Looks Like in the First Year\nTest events start on time with fully instrumented vessels, and every run produces usable, traceable data.\nTechnicians work across all sites follows one consistent standard, documented in checklists and travelers that anyone on the team can execute.\nField findings reach the engineering team in written form fast enough to influence the next design revision, not the one after it.\nThe Fort Pierce consolidation lands without a gap in test or build tempo.\nBackground Check\nThis position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal and state law.\nEEO and ITAR/EAR Work Authorization Disclosure\nRed Cat Holdings provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics,protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Successful candidates for positions subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence an...","description_format":"text","description_chars":12270,"description_truncated":true,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"high_school","optional":true},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Naval Systems"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-05T13:44:49Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":4,"expected_fill_days":23,"reasons":["conf:0","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-10T05:45:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/blue-ops-field-test-engineering-lead","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/blue-ops-field-test-engineering-lead.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-12T05:05:54Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":8108,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-13T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2335094},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2335094"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fblue-ops-field-test-engineering-lead"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fblue-ops-field-test-engineering-lead"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fblue-ops-field-test-engineering-lead"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/blue-ops-field-test-engineering-lead\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fblue-ops-field-test-engineering-lead"}]}