Payloads Field Service Engineer
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Employment Type: Contract
*This is a DOD cleared program and all applicants must be willing and able to obtain a Top Secret / SCI Clearance*
Role Overview
This position is for a Principal or Senior Principal Payloads Field Service Engineer supporting the MQ-4C Triton Program. The selected candidate will provide operations and maintenance support for the aircraft's sensors and communications systems at a Forward Operating Base. This role involves real-time support to flight operations, fault isolation, and coordination with various engineering and support teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide real-time support to flight operations and maintenance for communications and payload systems, including MFAS Radar, EO/IR, and link16.
- Perform fault isolation, remediation, and resolution of technical issues.
- Coordinate work with site leadership and ensure Maintenance Action Forms (MAFs) are in place.
- Adhere to checklists and procedures, providing redlines for updates when necessary.
- Communicate technical issues to local support, the Degrader Action Cell (DAC), Main Operation Bases (MOBs), and Responsible Engineers (REs).
- Support air crew engagement for complex problem analysis during operations.
- Assist with trend analysis and support Main Operating Base communications and network interfaces.
- Develop expertise across all supported sensor and communications systems.
Work Environment
This position requires a 6+ month training period in San Diego, CA, with travel to other domestic locations. The final assignment is in Mayport, Florida. Initially, the work schedule is a 9/80 shift, which may transition to 12-hour shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays as the program matures. This is a full-time, on-site role with no remote work available. Travel may be up to 10% after the initial training period.
Required Qualifications
Principal Engineer:
- Bachelor's Degree in a STEM discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline with 1 year of related engineering experience.
Senior Principal Engineer:
- Bachelor's Degree in a STEM discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline with 3 years of related engineering experience.
Qualifications for Both Levels:
- Must hold a current DoD Secret clearance, with the ability to obtain a Top-Secret/SCI clearance.
- Ability to obtain and maintain program access (SAP/PAR).
- Competence in Linux, troubleshooting, and using engineering documents and tools.
- Familiarity with payloads operations or communications/networking operations.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD 8140 approved IAT Level II (or higher) certification (e.g., Security+CE, CCNA Security).
- Willingness to complete required training assignments.
Preferred Qualifications
- Active DoD Top Secret clearance.
- Active DoD 8140 approved IAT Level II (or higher) compliant certification.
- Demonstrated understanding of MQ-4C sensors and communications payloads.
- Experience with test equipment such as network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators.
- MPO/TC operator system knowledge.
- System Administrator experience.
- Operations and Maintenance experience at a field site.
Compensation & Benefits
The anticipated pay range for this position is $50.00/hour to $140.00/hour. A comprehensive benefits package is available for this position. For a complete list of benefits, please visit our website.
This employer is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.