Forward Deployed Hardware Engineer

Overland AI

$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or similar technical field, or 5-8 years of equivalent experience
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD security clearance
  • Proven hands-on experience with vehicles or complex hardware systems
  • Strong mechanical engineering intuition
  • Proficiency in robotics, sensors, networking, and embedded systems

Responsibilities

  • Deploy and test autonomous vehicles in real-world environments
  • Perform troubleshooting, maintenance, and repairs on vehicle systems
  • Contribute to hardware/software integration and enhancements
  • Collaborate with engineers and program managers for deployment
  • Maintain detailed field performance records
  • Provide on-site training and support to end users

Benefits

  • Best-in-class healthcare, dental, and vision plans
  • Flexible PTO
  • 401k with company match
  • Parental leave
  • Equity compensation
Full Job Description
Role Summary:

We are looking for a field-forward, Hardware Engineer to deploy, operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and train end-users on autonomous ground-vehicle platforms in real operational environments. This role is for someone who is most comfortable hands-on with vehicles, thrives in the field, and knows how to keep machines running when conditions are far from ideal.

This is not a desk job. You will spend significant time deployed at test sites, customer locations, and operational events, working directly on vehicles, diagnosing issues, making repairs, and ensuring systems are mission-ready.

Responsibilities:

  • Deploy and Field-Test Systems: Deploy and test autonomous vehicles and their payloads in real-world environments. When not traveling, you will be supporting payload integration and vehicle field testing between our Seattle and Central Washington State locations.
  • Sustain: Perform hands-on troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of vehicle systems including electronics, sensors, wiring, power, networking, and mechanical interfaces. Diagnose failures under time pressure and in resource-constrained environments, then implement practical fixes to keep vehicles operational.
  • Develop and Iterate: Contribute to hardware/software integration and enhancements, leveraging user feedback to improve autonomy capabilities.
  • Collaborate Across Teams: Partner with engineers and program managers to ensure seamless deployment and alignment with end-user needs.
  • Document and Analyze: Maintain detailed records of field performance, documenting lessons learned and recommending improvements.
  • Train and Support Users: Provide on-site training and support to end users/operators on system usage, maintenance, and safety. Help ensure operational readiness before and during field deployment.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, or a similar technical field, or 5 to 8 years of equivalent work experience.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD security clearance.

Desired Experience & Qualifications:

  • Proven hands-on experience working with vehicles or complex hardware systems.
  • Strong mechanical engineering intuition and the ability to work in ambiguous environment(s).
  • Proficiency in one or more of the following: robotics, sensors, networking, embedded systems, electronics, off-road vehicle operations and maintenance.
  • Comfort working with electrical systems, sensors, wiring, connectors, and power systems.
  • Experience with uncrewed systems and robotics software (e.g., ROS, CAN, drive-by-wire systems).
  • Familiarity with autonomous system sensors (LIDAR, cameras).
  • Experience with programming languages such as Python or C++ is a plus.
  • Knowledge of field-testing protocols and safety-critical environments.
  • Ability to operate and problem solve independently in challenging conditions, including adverse weather and remote locations.
  • Thrive in dynamic, cross-functional teams and small startup environments.
  • Experience deploying hardware and software in defense technology, deep tech, or start up environments.
  • Prior experience supporting hardware during live demos, tests, or operational events.
  • Willingness to co-locate at testing sites or military installations for extended periods, both CONUS and OCONUS.

Location:

This position is located in Washington State. When not traveling, expect to be working out of our Central Washington State test site and/or in our Seattle locations. Frequent, extended travel expected (>50%).

Benefits:

Overland AI believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day.

  • The salary range for this position is $120K to $150K annually
  • Equity compensation
  • Best-in-class healthcare, dental, and vision plans
  • Flexible PTO
  • 401k with company match
  • Parental leave

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