Aerial Systems Engineer

Nearmap; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Nearmap is seeking an Aerial Systems Engineer to be the technical backbone of our North American aerial capture operation. You will install and configure camera systems on aircraft, troubleshoot field issues, and keep the fleet ready to fly. You’ll manage parts and training, turning field lessons into shareable documentation.

You will perform mechanical/electrical testing, support pilots, and help transition hardware from R&D to production. Travel and on-site work in North America are expected.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in an operational engineering, field service, or technical support role within a production environment.
• Hands-on mechanical/electronic troubleshooting experience in field and in-house settings.
• Structured fault isolation across cabling, power, firmware, and components using system logs.
• Willingness to travel ~60% to support the fleet and perform maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, maintain, and repair aerial camera systems and related hardware in aircraft.
• Provide first-level technical support for aerial system issues in production; troubleshoot with pilots.
• Perform mechanical and electrical testing of sensor equipment with meters, scopes, and power supplies.
• Manage aerial system inventory and logistics, including parts tracking and shipping.
• Onboard new pilots, maintain training documentation, and work with subcontractors to correct non-conformances.
• Contribute to standard operating procedures and troubleshooting documentation.

Skills

Field service

Troubleshooting

Avionics/electro-mechanical

Inventory management

Documentation

Flight operations support

Tools

Multimeters

Oscilloscopes

Power supplies

Firmware update tooling

Job description

As our Aerial Systems Engineer, you're the technical backbone of Nearmap's aerial capture operation in North America. You keep the cameras, sensors, and onboard systems that make our imagery possible running at full strength - installing and configuring equipment, troubleshooting issues in the field and in the shop, and making sure every aircraft in the fleet is ready to fly. You're the first call when a pilot hits a sensor problem, the person keeping parts and inventory moving where they're needed, and the one turning hard-won field lessons into documentation the whole team can use. If you like hands-on problem-solving, thrive under real production pressure, and want your work to directly keep a national capture operation flying, we want to talk to you.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, maintain, and repair aerial camera systems and related hardware/software in aircraft - including preventive maintenance, part replacement, and post-repair testing to minimize production downtime.
• Provide first-level technical support for aerial system issues in production - troubleshooting with pilots and operators, reviewing Pilot Daily Reports, and documenting cases in Jira through to resolution.
• Perform mechanical and electrical testing of sensor equipment using tools such as multimeters, power supplies, and oscilloscopes.
• Manage aerial system inventory and logistics - ensuring operators have the media, software, and camera components they need, tracking spare parts, and shipping/receiving equipment domestically and internationally.
• Onboard new pilots on aerial system use, keep pilot training documentation current, and work with pilots and subcontractors to correct non-conformance.
• Work within and contribute to the operational and troubleshooting documentation and workflow standards so procedures stay consistent, scalable, and efficient.
• Support the transition of new hardware from R&D into production, including user acceptance testing and feedback on new software releases.
• Contribute to ImpactResponse deployments, supporting rapid data collection and delivery after catastrophe events.

Qualities & Attributes

• Hands-on problem solver, just as comfortable with a soldering iron as a spreadsheet.
• Calm under pressure, especially when a sensor goes down mid-mission.
• Self-directed - you don't need someone looking over your shoulder to get it right.
• Clear communicator who can translate technical issues for a non-technical audience.
• Genuinely curious about new technology and how to make systems better.
• Takes feedback and turns it into changed practice.
• Closes what they open: a fault is not done until it is fixed, verified, and documented.

What you'll bring

• 2+ years of experience in an operational engineering, field service, or technical support role within a production environment.
• Technical trade or hands-on background (for example avionics, electro-mechanical, or sensor maintenance) or equivalent experience; a four-year degree is not required. Hands-on mechanical/electronic troubleshooting experience - comfortable setting up, testing, and repairing systems both in the field and in-house.
• Structured fault isolation: works a defect methodically through cabling, power, firmware, then component, rather than swapping parts at random, using system logs as part of that process.
• Careful, methodical handling of high-value precision optical and mechanical assemblies where mistakes are costly.
• Bonus: able to independently root-cause intermittent or non-reproducing faults from logs.
• Working knowledge of network connectivity troubleshooting across wired and wireless setups and physical cabling.
• Basic electronics skills, including use of a soldering iron and familiarity with board-level testing and calibration (multimeters, power supplies, oscilloscopes), plus comfort performing firmware and software updates via diagnostic tooling and troubleshooting devices on a local IP network.
• Proven ability to own faults and tasks end to end with general supervision and a clear escalation path for complex faults, including verification and write-up.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical issues in plain language to a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lb individually and to team-lift and handle heavy assemblies, and to move and work in confined spaces and outdoors.
• Ability to accommodate last minute and unplanned travel (~60%) to support the fleet, work flexible hours including shared weekends, and hold a valid driver's license; must be legally authorized to work in the US.
• Comfortable working within an aviation maintenance and airworthiness-controlled environment; direct aviation or aerospace maintenance experience strongly preferred.

Why you'll love working at Nearmap

We move fast and work smart; often wearing multiple hats. We adapted to remote working with ease and are continually looking at ways to improve. We're proud of our inclusive, supportive culture, and maintain a safe environment where everyone feels a sense of belon