Mission Operations Engineer

Job description

DS creates systems that power the next generation of radio spectrum intelligence. We collect radio data from all over the world, train neural networks to decipher it, and run them on the smallest chips we can. We’re solving a new, technically hard problem where nothing from other fields works out of the box, and along the way, we’ve built our own stack from scratch, including entirely new embedding model architectures, custom GPU kernels, and much more. Joining DS means owning major parts of a fast-growing AI research organization, joining a collaborative, talent-dense team with decades of experience in probabilistic ML, accelerated computing, embedded systems, and signal theory, and growing your career in the areas that interest you. You’ll fit in if you want to come to work for the problem itself and don’t want to choose between technical rigor, business value, and real-world impact. We work with high ownership and trust. THE ROLE As a Mission Operations Engineer at Distributed Spectrum, you will be at the heart of transforming raw RF data into actionable intelligence in operational environments. Empowered by AI-driven sensing, you’ll ensure operators can detect, understand, and respond to emerging threats at the edge. You’ll work on everything from deploying sensors in the field, integrating systems, and building operational toolchains to supporting customer missions in real time. WHAT YOU’LL DO - Operate and support live mission deployments, working with edge‑AI sensors to detect and classify threats from RF environments. - Lead hands-on field operations, including deployment planning, sensor configuration, testing, troubleshooting, and data validation. - Design and improve mission workflows, translating operator needs into technical specifications, products, and real-world capabilities. - Collaborate closely with engineering teams, feeding customer insights back to drive rapid iteration on sensor hardware, software, and AI models. - Drive training and documentation efforts, ensuring that internal teams and customers have the tools and knowledge to operate efficiently. - Support mission planning and execution, including preparing test scenarios, overseeing data collection during deployments, and coordinating post-mission debriefs. - Ensure data integrity and operational readiness, maintaining system health, monitoring performance, and contributing to continued development of our core platform. WHO YOU ARE - Experience in mission operations or field engineering roles, ideally in RF, sensing, autonomy, or related domains. - Background in signal processing, communications engineering, or similar technical fields. - Proficiency with data collection workflows, operational tooling, dashboards, or field instrumentation. - Strong troubleshooting, adaptability, and an edge-case mindset. - Excellent communication and collaboration skills, comfortable with both technical teams and field operators. - Willingness to travel extensively and work in diverse, sometimes austere, environments. - Eligible for US security clearance NICE TO HAVE - Military or government experience working with RF systems - Familiarity with tools for autonomous system integration - Experience with AI-informed, edge‑deployed sensors, or autonomy platforms. WHY DISTRIBUTED SPECTRUM? - Join early at a startup solving real-world RF detection challenges with cutting-edge AI. - Work in a fast-moving, operator-focused culture where ideas move from concept to deployment in weeks not years. - Be part of a team of cross-disciplinary problem solvers: visionaries, engineers, and field operators uniting on mission-critical impact. - Benefit from a supportive workplace that values autonomy, collaboration, and direct impact. WHO THRIVES AT DISTRIBUTED SPECTRUM - Fast learners over specific backgrounds – We care more about how quickly you can pick up new skills than where you’ve worked before. - Intellectual honesty – The right answer matters more than being right. You challenge assumptions, test ideas, and pivot when needed. - Adaptability – We’re organized, but sometimes things change quickly. You find a way to make it work and balance short-term deliverables with long-term goals. - Ownership of outcomes – You optimize your own time, focus on what matters to deliver quickly, and cut out inefficiencies. - Not building in a vacuum – You stay connected to the rest of our teams and our customers to make sure all the pieces fit together. WHAT WE OFFER - Above-market salary, equity, and benefits package. - Early Series A Equity - Excellent health, dental, and vision coverage - 401(k) match - up to 4% of your salary - Flexible PTO - Daily office lunches in NYC ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987.