Staff Field Solutions Engineer

About the role

This position focuses on driving technical sales and customer capture efforts for the Hivemind autonomy software platform across the Americas. You will act as the primary technical bridge between customer mission requirements and our internal product and engineering teams. In this capacity, you will own the translation of complex operational concepts into technically feasible software architectures and solution designs. You will lead high-impact technical demonstrations and customer engagements that validate Hivemind capabilities against demanding mission objectives. The role requires close collaboration with internal stakeholders to ensure product roadmaps remain aligned with real-world market demands and emerging threats. You will be responsible for clearly articulating both system capabilities and limitations to diverse audiences, from engineering technologists to operational leadership. Success in this position depends on your ability to manage competing priorities and navigate ambiguity within a fast-paced, dynamic sales environment.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Drive technical discovery sessions that uncover latent customer needs and map them to core Hivemind functionalities.
• Architect and lead complex technical demonstrations that de-risk procurement decisions for strategic defense customers.
• Synthesize ambiguous mission requirements into structured solution narratives that directly address stakeholder pain points.
• Author compelling technical content for RFIs, RFPs, and white papers that differentiate our value proposition in crowded markets.
• Orchestrate cross-functional alignment between Product, Engineering, and Customer Engagement to refine solution fit.
• Serve as the definitive authority on system capabilities and constraints during high-stakes integration discussions.
• Facilitate technical interchange meetings that build consensus between Shieldai and customer program offices.
• Maintain a dynamic understanding of evolving warfighter needs to proactively adjust solution positioning.
• Conduct rigorous gap analyses that highlight how Hivemind resolves critical operational shortfalls.
• Act as a trusted advisor during proof-of-concept phases, ensuring technical milestones are met or exceeded.
• Translate dense software documentation into accessible narratives for decision-makers without technical backgrounds.
• Support the capture lifecycle from initial lead identification through contract award with precision and discipline.
• Leverage competitive intelligence to refine our technical messaging and counter opposing solution narratives.
• Mentor junior team members on best practices for field engineering and customer-facing technical delivery.

Requirements

• Possess 7+ years of cumulative experience in fields applications engineering, solutions engineering, systems engineering, technical sales, or other customer-facing technical roles.
• Demonstrate a proven technical background centered on AI-enabled systems, autonomy, mission software, or sophisticated simulation environments.
• Show direct experience managing end-to-end customer interactions, including high-level proposal support and detailed integration discussions.
• Have direct hands-on experience with Department of War simulation systems, live-virtual-constructive environments, synthetic data generation, or image-generation technologies.
• Exhibit a demonstrated capability to manage competing priorities and make sound judgments despite high ambiguity in fast-paced settings.
• Display willingness to travel domestically for customer exercises, on-site demonstrations, and strategic internal meetings as required.
• Hold the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance as a condition of employment.
• Commit to adhering to Shieldai security protocols, data handling procedures, and operational security standards at all times.
• Bring strong written and verbal communication skills necessary to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Apply previous experience in defense or aerospace environments to accelerate understanding of mission-critical workflows.
• Demonstrate ownership mindset where you proactively identify problems and drive them to resolution without excessive supervision.
• Maintain intellectual curiosity and a growth-oriented approach to learning new technologies and methodologies.
• Align personal performance goals with organizational objectives related to customer acquisition and retention.
• Comply with all company policies, ethical guidelines, and regulatory requirements governing defense sector work.

Nice to have

• Hold an active U.S. security clearance at the Secret level or higher.
• Bring direct experience with Department of War mission rehearsal, test and evaluation, or formal training programs.
• Show familiarity with LVC architectures, digital twins, or various constructive entity frameworks.
• Possess hands-on technical skills with Python, Linux operating environments, software development kits, APIs, or robotics middleware.
• Have practical experience with simulation-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, or software-in-the-loop integration workflows.
• Maintain a background working directly with U.S. DoD customers, government laboratories, or major defense prime contractors.
• Understand the nuances of acquisition processes and lifecycle management within the defense sector.
• Exhibit familiarity with agile development methodologies and continuous integration practices.
• Demonstrate experience using data visualization tools to convey insights during executive briefings.
• Have a background in software-defined systems or open architecture frameworks relevant to autonomy platforms.

Practical notes

• Compensation includes salary, bonus, benefits, and equity.
• Offers are contingent upon a cleared background check and potential reference verification.
• Shieldai is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.