Forward Deployed Engineer

Noble Machines Inc.; Sunnyvale, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Noble Machines Inc. is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to be the bridge between our robotics platform and customers on construction sites, mines, and energy facilities. You will deploy, integrate, and support robots on-site, troubleshooting across software, hardware and networking in real time, with high ownership and field readiness.

This hands-on role requires configuring systems, climbing onto equipment when needed, and frequent travel to customer sites to ensure uptime and success.

Qualifications

• 3+ years solving hardware, software and networking problems in field environments.
• Hands-on comfort with wiring, sensors, and mechanical troubleshooting.
• Strong ownership and ability to work independently on high-stakes problems.

Responsibilities

• Lead on-site deployment, installation and integration of robots at sites across construction, mining and energy.
• Serve as primary technical contact during deployment, resolving hardware, software and networking issues in real time.
• Translate field learnings into concrete product requirements and improvements.
• Design scalable deployment processes, tooling and documentation as the customer base grows.
• Own technical outcomes end-to-end—from pre-deployment planning through go-live and support.
• Provide hands-on training to customer operators and site personnel.
• Conduct root-cause analysis on field incidents and drive fixes across hardware, firmware and software.
• Travel regularly to customer sites, including remote environments, to support deployments and uptime.

Skills

Python

C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related field

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Linux

Networking basics

Job description

Noble Machines builds multipurpose robots to support human workers in the world's toughest jobs—turning dangerous work from a necessity into a choice. Our work demands reliability, robustness, and readiness for the unexpected—on time, every time. We're assembling a mission-driven team focused on delivering real impact in heavy industry, from construction and mining to energy. If you're driven to build rugged, reliable products that solve real-world problems, we'd love to talk.

About the Role

Noble Machines is looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer to be the critical link between our robotics platform and the customers putting it to work in the field—construction sites, mines, and energy facilities where the work is hardest and the stakes are highest. You'll deploy, integrate, and support our robots on-site, troubleshoot issues that span software, hardware, and networking in real time, and feed what you learn in the field directly back into product and engineering. This is a hands‑on, high-ownership role for someone who is just as comfortable configuring a system as they are climbing onto equipment or debugging from a jobsite trailer.

What You'll Do

• Lead on‑site deployment, installation, and integration of Noble Machines' robots at customer sites across construction, mining, and energy
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers during deployment, resolving hardware, software, autonomy, and networking issues in real time under field conditions
• Partner with engineering, autonomy, and hardware teams to translate field learnings, edge cases, and customer feedback into concrete product requirements and improvements
• Design and refine scalable deployment processes, tooling, and documentation as Noble Machines' customer base grows
• Own technical outcomes end‑to‑end—from pre‑deployment planning and site readiness through go‑live, training, and ongoing support
• Provide hands‑on training to customer operators and site personnel on safe, effective robot operation
• Conduct root‑cause analysis on field incidents and drive fixes across hardware, firmware, and software
• Travel regularly to customer sites, including remote and industrial environments, to support deployments and maintain uptime

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands‑on experience
• 3+ years of experience solving problems at the intersection of hardware, software, and networking, ideally in unstructured or field environments
• Proficiency in Python and/or C++, with the ability to read, debug, and modify code across the stack
• Comfort working hands‑on with physical systems—wiring, sensors, mechanical troubleshooting—in addition to software
• Strong ownership mentality and the ability to work independently on ambiguous, high‑stakes problems with shifting requirements
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build trust with customers in high‑pressure field environments
• Willingness to travel frequently to industrial and remote job sites, including construction sites, mines, and energy facilities
• Ability to perform physical tasks associated with fieldwork (e.g., lifting equipment, working outdoors in varied conditions, wearing required PPE)

Nice to Have

• Experience deploying robotics, autonomy, or hardware products in heavy industry (construction, mining, oil & gas, utilities)
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2, autonomy stacks, or robot fleet management systems
• Linux systems administration, networking, and on‑prem/edge deployment experience
• Background in defense, automotive, or industrial robotics
• Relevant safety certifications (OSHA 10/30, MSHA, or similar)

Pay Transparency & Compensation: In accordance with California's Pay Transparency Act (SB 1162), the expected base salary range for this position located in Sunnyvale, CA is $140,000 – $195,000 per year.

Actual compensation within this range will be determined based on several factors, including the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, technical skills, and specialized expertise. Base salary is just one component of Noble Machines' total rewards package, which may also include equity options, comprehensive healthcare benefits, retirement plan contributions, and performance-based incentives.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Noble Machines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Noble Machines, Inc’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.