Field Test Engineer

NextNav LLC; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

NextNav LLC is seeking a Field Test Engineer in San Jose, California. The role involves defining and establishing mobile and fixed test setups, testing RF equipment, and evaluating system performance in the 5G PNT network.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in telecommunications or related fields and 2+ years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include test planning, documentation, and data collection at various test sites. Fieldwork requires a valid driver's license and a professional demeanor when interacting with third parties.

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience in field testing using navigation, location devices, and systems.
• Good logical reasoning and proactive solution pursuit.
• Valid driver's license required for driving to test locations.

Responsibilities

• Create, execute, and document test plan outcomes.
• Understand and analyze system error sources.
• Document test details, results, and observations.

Skills

Analytical reasoning

Troubleshooting skills

Communication skills

Detail-oriented mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in telecommunications, electrical engineering, computer science

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum analyzers

Network analyzers

Job description

NextNav is looking for a Field Test Engineer to join our team. As a Field Test Engineer, you will have a critical role in defining and establishing mobile and fixed test setups, extensive RF receiver & RF test equipment testing and data collection primarily in the live 5G PNT network in San Jose (5G-Powered PNT Network ), but will also be involved with work out of our Santa Clara office lab. The testing and data collection will be performed to evaluate receiver performance and overall system performance. Test planning and execution will be a big part of your day, but you will also be heavily collaborating with the System’s team to understand functionality and tests required. As receiver software and functionality evolves the tests required using RF test equipment on the 5G PNT network features and coverage evolve. You will be involved in all aspects of this important field work, including test plan documentation, test logistics planning, data collection (outdoor test sites, indoor test sites, and mobile testing in a car), real-time trouble shooting and problem solving, capturing and processing data logs, data analysis, and test reports/documentation.

Responsibilities

• Create, execute, and document on test plan outcomes in test reports
• Understand system error sources, the operation of test platforms and field test methodology to facilitate error analysis
• Modify the test platform and analysis tools for testing needs working with Systems, HW and SW teams
• Analyze results and summarize conclusions
• Precise and clear documentation of test details, results, and observations

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in telecommunications, electrical engineering, computer science or related discipline
• 2+ years’ experience in field testing using navigation, location devices, and systems
• Good logical and analytical reasoning, troubleshooting skills and ability to proactively pursue solutions without significant supervision needed
• Ability to work in a collaborative team, demonstrating good verbal and written communication skills
• Willingness to conduct extensive testing in the field for many days in a row, often as the lone individual doing the testing
• Self‑awareness and ability to carry oneself professionally as a representative of NextNav when talking to third parties (building owners, shop owners, security professionals, etc.) during test activities that involve testing in or near facilities such as hotels, parking garages, coffee shops, public parks, etc.
• Detail oriented, efficient, proactive, and self-driven mindset
• Valid driver license required to facilitate driving/testing at field locations.
• Required to spend time outside the office driving to test locations, driving test routes, moving equipment from the car to a test set up that may be a long distance from the car (inside a building on any floor or outside) while ensuring your own safety and the security of the equipment.
• This is a contract role with around 20-40 working hours a week

Preferred

• Hands‑on experience in the lab with HW/SW interfacing such as connecting through serial/network interfaces, operating/controlling lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, RF sniffing equipment.
• Basic understanding of cellular/wireless communication systems
• Basic understanding of navigation and location technology such as GNSS
• Basic understanding and usage of Python/Matlab.
• Comfortable interfacing with the teams across India, Canada and USA