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Location: Germantown, MD | Schedule: Full-time, on-site with 35% travel (including some international travel) | Compensation: $110,000 - $135,000 + Annual Bonus

Overview

A defense-technology systems integrator is seeking a customer-facing Systems Integration Engineer to own the integration, testing, and troubleshooting of EO/IR payloads within customer platforms. This role acts as the technical bridge between engineering teams, U.S.-based customers, and prime contractors, serving as the primary technical point of contact during integrations, deployments, and field support.

What you'll do

• Lead integration of EO/IR payloads into customer platforms
• Understand and validate payload-to-platform interfaces, including power, data, mechanical, and communication protocols
• Support both prime and sub-contractor integration scenarios
• Translate customer system requirements into actionable technical execution
• Perform system-level troubleshooting to identify whether issues originate at the component, subsystem, or interface level
• Analyze test outputs, logs, and data to determine root cause and corrective actions
• Decide whether issues require component replacement, subsystem removal, or escalation to engineering teams
• Support rapid issue resolution during factory testing, integration testing, and field deployments
• Perform assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of payloads and integrated systems
• Trace electrical wiring, connectors, and harnesses to isolate faults
• Validate proper power delivery, signal flow, and mechanical connections
• Support physical inspections and system validation at customer sites
• Support software and SDK-based integrations between payloads and customer systems
• Troubleshoot communication issues, data/message flow, and integration mismatches
• Work with software engineers to resolve bugs related to upgrades, versioning, or configuration
• Interpret logs and error messages to support integration debugging
• Execute and support defined test procedures for payloads and integrated systems
• Serve as the primary technical interface with customers during integrations
• Clearly explain technical issues, risks, and resolutions to non-specialist stakeholders
• Coordinate closely with engineering teams in Israel and U.S. program stakeholders
• Support training, documentation, and knowledge transfer activities
• Participate in ongoing collaboration with international engineering teams, including periodic international and domestic travel for customer support and training (40% annual average)

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Engineering, or related field)
• 3+ years of experience in systems engineering, integration, test engineering, or field engineering roles
• Hands-on experience with system-level integration and troubleshooting
• Ability to operate without detailed manuals in dynamic environments
• Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving skills
• Ability to travel 35% annually based upon needs, with 2-3 weeks of initial training internationally
• Experience working with integrated hardware systems (components, subsystems, payloads, or platforms)
• Experience with electrical wiring, connectors, and harnesses
• Experience with power distribution and signal flow
• Experience with mechanical interfaces and physical integration
• Comfort performing assembly/disassembly and field diagnostics
• Experience supporting software-enabled systems or SDK-based integrations
• Understanding of communication protocols, data/message flow, and system interfaces
• Experience troubleshooting software issues related to upgrades or configuration
• Experience executing or supporting test procedures and system validation
• Ability to interpret test data and communicate results clearly

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with EO/IR, ISR, radar, sensor, UAV, or defense systems
• Experience working with government, defense, or security customers
• Prior customer-facing technical role (Field Engineer, Systems Integrator, Solutions Engineer)
• Experience supporting international engineering teams
• Familiarity with UAV, maritime, vehicle, or other surveillance platforms

Compensation and benefits

• Salary range of $110,000 - $135,000
• Annual Bonus

Why this role

This is a hands-on, high-visibility position that puts you at the technical center of customer integrations, deployments, and field support, working directly with engineering teams in Israel and U.S. program stakeholders.