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

Overview

A defense-technology organization that designs and fields EO/IR sensor payloads for government and security customers is seeking a customer-facing Systems Integration Engineer. This hands-on, high-visibility role serves as the technical bridge between internal engineering teams, U.S.-based customers, and prime contractors, owning the integration, testing, and troubleshooting of EO/IR payloads across hardware, software, and mechanical interfaces.

What you'll do

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

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, or Computer Engineering)
• 3+ years of experience in systems engineering, integration, test engineering, or field engineering roles
• Hands-on experience with system-level integration and troubleshooting
• Experience working with government, defense, or security customers
• Prior customer-facing technical role (Field Engineer, Systems Integrator, Solutions Engineer)
• Ability to operate without detailed manuals in dynamic environments
• Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving skills
• Ability to commit to 35% travel annually based on needs, including 2-3 weeks of initial training internationally
• Experience working with integrated hardware systems (components, subsystems, payloads, or platforms), including electrical wiring, connectors, and harnesses, power distribution and signal flow, and 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 supporting international engineering teams
• Familiarity with UAV, maritime, vehicle, or other surveillance platforms

Compensation and benefits

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

Why this role

This is a hands-on, high-visibility position offering direct ownership of complex EO/IR system integrations, close collaboration with international engineering teams including colleagues in Israel, and the opportunity to serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers during integrations, deployments, and field support.