[Hiring] Mission Engineer - Air Systems @RED CAT HOLDINGS

Role Description

Mission Engineering is responsible for deploying, operating, maintaining, and supporting autonomous vehicle systems in real-world environments. This role sits at the intersection of business development, engineering, and field deployment, and is critical to ensuring ASR systems perform reliably outside the lab.

• You will primarily operate and support unmanned ASR-equipped unmanned aerial vehicles.
• As time and company opportunities permit, you will also support surface, undersea, and ground vehicles in both commercial and defense contexts, often in unfamiliar, austere, or high-tempo environments.
• You will work with a significant level of autonomy, make decisions, and provide direct feedback to engineering and sales teams based on real operational experience and customer engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Deploy, operate, and maintain UAS, USV, UUV, and UGV platforms in the field.
• Support mission execution involving autonomous and semi-autonomous systems.
• Configure, operate, and troubleshoot autonomy and autopilot hardware/software in real-time operational conditions.
• Perform systems integration, pre-mission checks, and post-mission analysis.
• Maintain and repair vehicle systems, payloads, and supporting ground equipment.
• Operate systems in environments with limited infrastructure, communications, or support.
• Provide detailed operational feedback to engineering teams to improve system performance and reliability.
• Support business development engagements, demonstrations, customer evaluations, training events, and deployments.
• Travel to test sites, customer locations, and operational environments.
• Represent ASR professionally with customers, partners, and government stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 5 years of hands-on experience deploying, operating, or maintaining unmanned systems (UAS, USV, UUV, UGV).
• Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• Experience operating systems in austere field and/or maritime operational environments.
• Strong mechanical, electrical, or systems troubleshooting skills.
• Comfort working independently with limited oversight.
• Ability to remain calm and effective under operational pressure.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently, sometimes on short notice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Military experience operating, maintaining, or deploying unmanned systems in land, air, or maritime domains.
• Experience with autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle operations.
• Experience supporting defense, maritime, aerospace, or safety-critical commercial operations.
• Familiarity with command-and-control systems, mission planning software, or autonomy platforms.
• Experience working in classified, export-controlled, or government-adjacent environments.
• U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Operational Requirements

• Ability to travel, including international travel.
• Ability to work irregular hours in support of field operations and deployments.
• Ability to lift, transport, and operate heavy field equipment as required.

This Role May Be A Good Fit If

• You enjoy operating real systems in the real world.
• You are comfortable making decisions with incomplete information.
• You take ownership of problems and drive them to resolution.
• You communicate clearly under pressure.
• You prefer autonomy and responsibility over rigid process.

This Role Is Not for You If

• You prefer desk-only or lab-only work.
• You are uncomfortable traveling or operating in unfamiliar field conditions.
• You require highly structured environments and constant oversight.
• You are unwilling to be accountable for operational outcomes.

Compensation

Salary Range: $110,000 - $137,000 plus equity and potential bonuses.