Forward Deployed Engineer at a Defense-Tech Startup

Mesodyne Inc; Somerville (MA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Mesodyne Inc is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer in Somerville, MA, to bridge lab testing and military field operations. In this role, you'll lead deployments, troubleshoot issues rapidly, and communicate effectively with military personnel.

The position requires travel and strong outdoor skills as well as expertise in engineering disciplines. A B.S. in an engineering field is essential, along with hands-on capabilities in building prototypes.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build and debug physical prototypes required.
• Solid mechanical hand-tools proficiency and comfort with electrical wiring.
• Ability to work in austere environments with a strong endurance.

Responsibilities

• Lead on-site deployment of LightCell prototypes.
• Act as the ultimate tactical troubleshooter under pressure.
• Translate technical jargon into clear language for military personnel.
• Assist Engineering Team when not traveling.

Skills

Hands-On Troubleshooting

Broad Engineering Skills

Endurance, Grit, and Outdoor Character

Education

B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline

Tools

Mechanical hand-tools

Electrical wiring/multimeters

Command-line tools

Job description

Forward Deployed Engineer at a Defense-Tech Startup

Mesodyne is looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to bridge the gap between lab testing and real-world military field operations. In this role, you will be our "boots on the ground" technical lead, supporting live field trials, military exercises, and pilot customer demonstrations. This position requires up to 25% travel, often to rugged, austere environments. When things go wrong in the field you must be a master of fast, high-impact field fix—troubleshooting the system, swapping modules, and using terminal commands to adjust parameters and keep the LightCell running.

You will represent Mesodyne to military personnel and elite operators, requiring clear communication, sound judgment, and technical credibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Field Demonstration Execution: Lead on-site deployment, fueling, startup, and testing of LightCell prototypes at military exercises, defense evaluation events, and trade shows.
• Rapid Field Troubleshooting: Act as the ultimate tactical troubleshooter. Diagnose electrical, mechanical, and firmware issues quickly under pressure and get systems back online. Communicate problems clearly to Engineering and collaborate on fixes.
• Technical Communication: Translate complex tech jargon from engineering into clear, direct, common-sense language for the customer. Build strong rapport with military end-users and gather crucial operational insights. Provide a daily debrief to HQ and a full trip debrief upon return.
• Matrix into Engineering: When you are not traveling or preparing for travel, you will be embedded with our Engineering Team, helping to assemble new units, build test fixtures, and document hardware performance in the lab.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Hands-On Troubleshooting: A proven ability to build and debug physical prototypes is required (strong extracurricular projects and student project teams count!). Practical skills working with intricate mechanical assemblies are essential.
• Broad Engineering Skills: Solid mechanical hand-tools proficiency, comfort with basic electrical wiring/multimeters, and experience using command-line tools for debugging.
• Endurance, Grit, and Outdoor Character: You genuinely love traveling, the outdoors, and are comfortable operating in muddy, hot, or freezing austere training environments. We are looking for exceptional operational endurance and a relentless work ethic—someone who takes pride in working out tough problems and genuinely thrives under demanding conditions.
• Base Access & Credentialing: This position requires regular travel to U.S. military installations and defense facilities. Candidates must meet the baseline security, background checking, and credentialing requirements necessary to secure unescorted access to these government facilities.

Location

This position is based at our facility in Somerville, MA. 25% travel is required.