Field Applications Engineer

9 Mothers; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

9 Mothers in Austin is seeking a Field Applications Engineer (Demo Engineer) to bridge our lab and real-world deployment of autonomous counter-drone systems. You will lead live demonstrations, calibrate sensors, and ensure field readiness.

From flashing software to troubleshooting on the test range, you will deliver zero-fail performance under pressure while feeding feedback to R&D to accelerate rapid iteration.

Responsibilities

• Lead live flight and target-tracking demonstrations in field environments, operating autonomous counter-drone systems under high-stakes conditions.
• Prepare, assemble, and check autonomous hardware and edge-compute systems prior to field tests and demonstrations.
• Perform hardware and sensor alignment, including boresighting and multi-sensor calibration.
• Flash latest software builds, test system stability, and ensure readiness for field trials.
• Diagnose and resolve hardware, software, networking, and sensor issues on the fly with minimal downtime.
• Capture telemetry, edge cases, and user feedback to inform rapid engineering iterations.

Job description

Location: Onsite — Austin, TX

Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full-Time

Job Title: Field Applications Engineer (Demo Engineer)

About 9 Mothers

The modern battlefield has changed. Cheap, autonomous suicide drones have turned the tactical advantage upside down, and the world is looking for a solution. At 9 Mothers, we aren’t just "innovating"—we are building the shield.

Backed by top-tier investors, we develop AI powered machines designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real-time. Our flagship product is a low-power, counter-drone system built for the edge—on vehicles, at bases, or in a soldier's pack.

Why 9 Mothers?

While others build for "awareness" or "long-term research," we build for the immediate survival of those in harm’s way. We are a team of hackers, engineers, and mission-driven builders who value field-ready capability over polished slide decks. If you want to see your code or hardware in the field next month, not next year, this is your playground.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Field Applications Engineer (Demo Engineer) to serve as the critical bridge between our engineering lab and real-world deployment. You will be the hands-on expert responsible for bringing our autonomous c-sUAS platforms to life in front of active-duty end users, government partners, and key stakeholders.

From flashing software builds and calibrating multi-sensor payloads in the lab to operating systems and troubleshooting hardware live on the test range, you ensure zero-fail execution when the pressure is on.

Essential Duties

• Demo Operations & Execution: Lead live, dynamic flight and target-tracking demonstrations in field environments, operating autonomous counter-drone systems flawlessly under high-stakes conditions.

• System Preparation & Hardware Setup: Prepare, assemble, and check complex autonomous hardware and edge-compute systems prior to field tests and customer demonstrations.

• On-Site & Field Calibration: Perform precise hardware and sensor alignment, including boresighting, thermal/EO camera focusing, lens calibration, and multi-sensor orientation.

• Software Deployment & Validation: Flash latest software builds, test system stability, perform integration tests, and ensure firmware/software readiness for field trials.

• Rapid Field Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve unexpected hardware, software, networking, and sensor issues on the fly with minimal downtime during field trials.

• Feedback Loop: Serve as the direct link between field reality and R&D, capturing detailed telemetry, edge cases, and user feedback to inform engineering rapid iteration cycles.

Requirements