Field Integration & QA Engineer (Hardware / SaaS)

Centinus; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Centinus in Houston, TX is seeking a Field Integration & QA Engineer to bridge hardware partners and our remote software team. You will set up home hardware test benches, travel to partner sites for live bring-up, and perform HIL verifications to validate the C2 SaaS platform, AI models, and sensor streams.

You should have hands-on hardware/software troubleshooting, embedded systems, or IoT/robotics integration experience.

Qualifications

• Must have hardware/software troubleshooting experience with IoT/Robotics or embedded systems.
• Strong Linux/Unix familiarity, SSH, IP networking basics.
• QA/verification discipline with ability to write test procedures.
• Basic scripting in Python or Bash for automation.
• Willingness to learn aviation operations and obtain FAA Part 107.
• Travel flexibility to partner sites and test facilities across the US.
• Eligibility: US Citizenship or US Permanent Resident.

Responsibilities

• System & Integration QA: Plan and execute bench tests, field runs, and HIL verifications for new releases and AI/ML features.
• Hardware Bring-Up & Remote Enablement: Set up local staging test benches and enable secure remote access for debugging.
• New Platform & Sensor Integration: Wire up and verify data pipelines, interfaces, and edge processing with OEMs and vendors.
• Field Deployments & Partner Support: Travel to customer sites and labs to lead on-site hardware integration.
• Diagnostics & Bug Reporting: Monitor telemetry, isolate regressions, and deliver diagnostic traces to developers.
• Tooling & Automation: Write scripts to automate tests, flash firmware, verify data integrity, and pull logs.

Skills

Hardware/Software troubleshooting

Linux & networking

QA & verification discipline

Basic scripting

FAA Part 107 readiness

Travel readiness

US citizenship / Green Card eligible

Job description

We develop a unified Command & Control (C2) SaaS platform that coordinates autonomous uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and robotic platforms across diverse manufacturers, form factors (multirotor, fixed-wing, tethered, hybrid), and power architectures (lithium, hydrogen). Our platform incorporates AI/ML mission intelligence and integrates directly with advanced sensor suites, computer vision pipelines, and payload telemetry.

As our Field Integration & QA Engineer, you will bridge the gap between our physical hardware partners and our remote software development team. You will set up and maintain a home hardware test bench, travel to partner sites for live equipment bring-up, and conduct systematic testing to validate our SaaS platform, AI models/features, and real-time sensor streams.

If you have a strong foundation in hardware/software troubleshooting, embedded systems, or IoT/robotics integration, we will support your ramp-up on specific aviation standards and flight operations.

Key Responsibilities

• System & Integration QA: Plan and execute bench tests, field runs, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) verifications to validate new C2 SaaS releases, automated workflows, and AI/ML features.
• Hardware Bring-Up & Remote Enablement: Set up and manage local staging test benches (bench power, companion computers, communication links, sensors, network switches) so remote software engineers can securely access, debug, and flash builds on live devices.
• New Platform & Sensor Integration: Work with third-party hardware OEMs and sensor vendors to wire up, configure, and verify data pipelines, control interfaces, and edge processing.
• Field Deployments & Partner Support: Travel to customer sites, test facilities, and partner labs to lead on-site hardware integration, system bring-ups, and product trials.
• Diagnostics & Bug Reporting: Monitor network traffic, capture system telemetry/logs, isolate hardware-versus-software regressions, and deliver clear, actionable diagnostic traces to remote developers.
• Tooling & Automation: Write basic scripts (Python, Bash) to automate test routines, flash firmware, verify data packet integrity, and pull log archives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Hardware/Software Troubleshooting: Proven hands-on experience integrating, configuring, and debugging physical hardware combined with software systems (e.g., IoT devices, robotics, automotive, embedded systems, or industrial automation).
• Linux & Networking Fundamentals: Comfortable with Linux/Unix command-line tools, SSH, basic IP networking (subnets, routing, VPN setups for remote access), and standard communication interfaces (Ethernet, Serial/UART, USB, CAN).
• QA & Verification Discipline: Strong methodical testing mindset—able to write structured test procedures, isolate intermittent electrical or software faults, and document findings clearly.
• Basic Scripting: Ability to write lightweight scripts (Python, Bash) for automated testing, log extraction, or basic device management.
• Willingness to Learn Aviation Operations: Must be willing to learn drone operations and obtain an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate upon hire (training/licensing support provided).
• Travel Flexibility & Autonomy: Comfortable managing gear kits, shipping logistics, and traveling independently to partner facilities and test sites across the US.
• Eligibility: US Citizenship or US Permanent Resident (Green Card) required due to aerospace compliance and partner facility access requirements.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Robotics / UAS Background: Experience operating, building, or maintaining uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), RC aircraft, or ground robotics.
• Communication Protocols: Familiarity with robotics/drone communication protocols (MAVLink, ROS/ROS2).
• Video & Sensors: Experience with video streaming protocols (RTSP, WebRTC) and sensor payload integration (thermal, LiDAR, optical cameras).