Network Solutions Engineer

About the role

FieldAi's Irvine team builds embodied AI systems that operate in real-world conditions. You will work directly on robots, sensors, and field deployments to solve reliability challenges beyond the laboratory. The role combines networking, field operations, and customer collaboration to ensure robots remain online and mission-ready.

Software engineers turn product ideas into working code. Engineers work in small teams, review each other's work, and ship in small batches. Most teams follow agile practices such as sprints and daily standups. Engineers also write tests, fix bugs, and improve performance. The field values clear communication as much as technical skill. Engineers spend part of every week on planning, code review, and debugging, not just writing new code. The ability to explain a technical decision in plain words separates strong engineers from the rest.

Key facts

Requirements

Strong grounding in networking fundamentals, including Wi-Fi bands, channels, DFS, roaming, cellular LTE/5G, APN and SIM provisioning, routers, access points, subnets, VLANs, DHCP, DNS, NAT, and MAC address allowlisting.

Practical ability to assess Wi-Fi coverage, detect interference, and optimize access-point placement, channels, and antennas for reliable roaming.

2-3 years of experience in field deployment, systems integration, network operations, or IT/NOC, with field robotics experience preferred.

Skill in troubleshooting and debugging across software, hardware, and networking layers, with judgment to identify the true layer of failure.

Comfort using Linux and terminal/SSH, with scripting in Python or Bash to automate and extend tooling.

Clear communication skills for working directly with customers and IT in high-stakes settings and explaining technical issues to non-technical audiences.

Self-starter mindset for ambiguous, rapidly changing field environments.

Willingness to travel and work on-site with customers as needed.

Practical notes

This role requires a Bachelor's degree and 3+ years of relevant experience. Work is conducted on-site in Irvine, with travel and on-site presence as needed. Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

The role focuses on real-world robot operations and field deployments. Team members come from AI, robotics, software, and field operations backgrounds. Success depends on reliability, clarity, and collaboration across disciplines.

Questions to ask

Useful questions for the interview: what a typical week looks like, how work is assigned, what tools the team uses, and how feedback works. Asking how the role has changed recently and what the team wishes it had known when joining is also reasonable. Questions about the manager's priorities are especially valued.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.

About the company

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, dependable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence.