Mission Operator - Field Test Technician (Ground)

Job description

The future of defense will be decided by those who field intelligent machines at scale. At Scout AI, we’re developing Fury, the first robotic foundation model for defense, to give U.S. forces overwhelming, adaptable, and autonomous power across every domain. Fury enables human operators to command fleets of robots through natural language, and empowers those machines to sense, decide, and act together as one. This mission will ask everything of us: urgency, precision, and relentless work. **The Role**We’re hiring a Field Test Technician to join our Mission Operations team. The Field Test Technician will help develop, test, and operationalize Scout’s autonomous ground systems. This is a hands-on, jack-of-all-trades role focused on accelerating product development through disciplined field execution, structured testing, and close collaboration with engineering. You will be responsible for designing and executing structured test plans, operating Scout’s platforms in real-world environments, collecting and analyzing data, and generating clear reports that drive engineering decisions. You will also support customer demonstrations and ensure systems are prepared for both internal testing and external deployment. You will spend most of your time in the field. This role requires adaptability, strong mechanical and technical aptitude, and the ability to move seamlessly between operating vehicles, troubleshooting systems, setting up test environments, and providing structured feedback to engineers. Your work directly drives product maturity, reliability, and mission readiness. **Responsibilities** - Design and execute structured field tests to evaluate autonomy performance, hardware reliability, and mission behaviors - Operate unmanned systems (UxS) in real-world environments while ensuring safe and effective performance - Collaborate closely with engineering teams to translate field observations into prioritized product improvements - Collect, document, and organize high-quality test data; identify system failures, edge cases, and performance gaps - Analyze test results and generate clear, concise reports with findings and actionable recommendations - Support integration and validation of hardware and software components in field environments - Support customer demonstrations and field evaluations, ensuring platforms are reliable, safe, and professionally presented - Contribute to the development of repeatable test procedures and validation frameworks - Prepare and manage deployment logistics including vehicle setup, payload integration, trailering, fueling, and field site staging **Qualifications** - Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, or related field) - 3+ years of hands-on experience operating, maintaining, or testing vehicles, robotics platforms, or electromechanical systems - Strong mechanical and technical troubleshooting skills; comfortable diagnosing hardware and software issues in the field - Ability to execute structured test plans, document results clearly, and provide actionable technical feedback - Comfortable working in dynamic, outdoor, and field-based environments with frequent travel (50-75%) - Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate closely with engineering and cross-functional teams - High ownership mentality, attention to detail, and commitment to safety and disciplined execution - Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities - Passion about defense of the United States and its allies - May be expected to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance **Why Join Scout** - Work on the world’s most important frontier, ensuring U.S. and allied dominance in the age of intelligent machines - Be a core part of a team building the first defense-specific robotic foundation model - Collaborate with some of the top engineers in autonomy, AI, and national security - See your work deployed on real systems - Help define the future of intelligent defense systems - Backed by Draper Associates, Booz Allen Ventures, and other top investors **Benefits** - Competitive base salary and bonus - Meaningful equity - Premium medical, dental, and vision plans with $0 paycheck contribution - Competitive PTO and company holiday calendar - Catered lunch daily and fully stocked kitchen - EV charging - Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility) The stated salary range below represents an estimated base pay only and reflects consideration of multiple compensation factors. Final salary offers may differ depending on factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience or training background, specialized skills, and business needs. Most full-time positions also include highly competitive equity awards, which form part of Scout AI's overall compensation package. In addition, Scout AI provides comprehensive, top-tier benefits to full-time employees. US Salary Range $85,000—$155,000 USD