Forward Deployed Engineer

goTenna Inc; Fairfax (VA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

401(k) plan

Unlimited PTO

Parental Leave with Pay

Job summary

goTenna Inc, a leader in mobile mesh networking based in Fairfax, VA, is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer. This hybrid role focuses on technical support for Pro customers in Public Safety and military sectors, requiring extensive practical experience in technology deployment.

The ideal candidate will engage with clients, conduct training, and support business development activities. With a competitive salary range of $100,000 to $130,000 per year, this position offers benefits including 401(k) and unlimited PTO.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in Public Safety or Military.
• Hands-on experience with tactical communications technology.
• Ability to communicate technical details to non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Engage with Public Safety and Military customers.
• Monitor and answer support requests for Pro products.
• Conduct Virtual and Onsite training for customers.

Skills

Technical background in digital technologies

Customer service orientation

Problem-solving skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Tools

Salesforce

Jira

Job description

Work Type/Locations: Hybrid in either Fairfax, VA, OR Clarksburg, MD

About GoTenna

goTenna is the world's leading mobile mesh networking company, providing off‑grid connectivity solutions for smartphones and other devices, as well as augmenting traditional communications networks. This technology enables mobile, long‑range connectivity without cell, Wi‑Fi, or satellite connectivity. goTenna's products are currently in use by law enforcement, military, and public safety agencies worldwide. goTenna is a wholly owned subsidiary of Forterra, a leading provider of ground autonomy solutions for the US Department of Defense and other organizations.

About the Role

• The Forward Deployed Engineer is an integral part of the goTenna Customer Experience Team that manages the technical aspects of our company’s relationship with customers that use our Pro line of products. Pro customers include, but are not limited to, local and national Public Safety organizations, U.S. and international military, and other federal government agencies. You will provide accurate technical service and support before and after the point of sale to include both onsite and virtual training, and equipment installation, ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the customer journey.

• In addition to being a critical member of our Customer Experience Team, you will also work closely with all of our Marketing, Sales, Product, Engineering, and Solutions Architect teams. On the product and engineering side, you will be instrumental in advocating for our customers by proactively identifying issues and enabling an effective voice of the customer (VOC) program to propose product enhancements, new functionality and new products. On the business development side, you will help win new business by assisting in RFPs, demos, trade shows and Q&A sessions.

• As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you should expect your time to be spent between these activities: Technical Support, conducting Onsite/Virtual Training, equipment installations, working with Product and Engineering and supporting Business Development with demo’s, trade shows, and Q&A.

• Up to 50% travel may be required.

Primary Responsibilities

• Engage with Public Safety, Military, and other Pro customers
• Monitor and answer support requests relating to all of our Pro line of products
• Document current use cases, issues, and opportunities
• Provide regular reports to leadership on product and customer performance in order to help develop future strategies and roadmap
• Work cross‑functionally with other departments such as Product Management and Engineering in order to successfully troubleshoot technical issues
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements
• Conduct both Virtual and Onsite training and equipment installations with Customers
• Support technical presales activities, such as on‑site or virtual customer demos
• Support business development activities such as RFPs, demo, trade shows, etc.
• Stay up to speed on the latest technological advancements in our industry as well as the latest employment criteria of our customers

Required Experience

• 6+ years of professional experience, preferably deploying or utilizing technology products in a Public Safety or Military organization. Some of your experience should have been related to tactical communications
• Solid technical background with hands on experience in digital technologies
• An ability to grasp customers’ needs and suggest timely solutions
• Exceptional organizational, presentation, and verbal + written communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Physical ability to carry 30 pounds of equipment and work in austere conditions
• Experience with CRM tools and ticketing systems such as Salesforce or Jira
• A highly motivated self‑starter with outstanding planning and organizational skills with the ability to work independently and communicate effectively
• A tech‑savvy professional, able to explain technical details and requirements to both a non‑technical audience and an extremely technical audience via onsite and virtual engagements.
• A problem‑solver with a strong work ethic that can execute and provide quick and effective resolutions to our customers questions
• Someone who is customer/service oriented and enjoys building strong customer relationships
• A strategic thinker and planner that is adept at thinking outside the box and has a bias for action
• Able to lift 30 lbs.

Preferred Experience

• A passion for dealing in tactical communications and technology
• Operational experience such as prior active‑duty military, law enforcement, or Public Safety experience (either as a full time or volunteer), including but not limited to: emergency management, search & rescue, wildland firefighting, disaster response, etc.
• Passion for goTenna and our mission to build a distributed communication network from the ground‑up!

Clearance Eligibility

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. For more information about U.S. Security Clearances.

Benefits

• Equity
• 401(k) plan
• Unlimited PTO
• Parental Leave with Pay
• Medical, Dental, Vision and life insurance
• Short- and Long‑term disability plans
• Professional Development Stipend

Pay Range

100,000 - 130,000 USD per year (Fairfax, VA)

Placement at the appropriate job level (entry, senior, etc) will be determined by a combination of years of experience, demonstration of proficiency in this field, and other qualifications.

goTenna is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.