Mission Engineer - Air Systems

APIUM Swarm Robotics - A Red Cat Company; California; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Apium Swarm Robotics seeks a Mission Engineer to deploy, operate, and sustain autonomous vehicle systems across diverse environments in the United States. The role bridges business development, engineering, and field deployment to ensure reliable system performance beyond the lab.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years deploying unmanned platforms, hold a Part 107 certificate, and thrive under operational pressure.

Qualifications

• 5 years of hands-on experience deploying, operating, or maintaining unmanned systems (UAS/USV/UUV/UGV).
• Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate required.
• Experience operating in austere field or maritime environments.
• Ability to travel frequently and operate under pressure.
• Comfort working independently with limited oversight.

Responsibilities

• Deploy, operate, and maintain UAS, USV, UUV, and UGV platforms in the field.
• Support mission execution involving autonomous and semi-autonomous systems.
• Configure, operate, and troubleshoot autonomy hardware/software in real-time conditions.
• Perform systems integration, pre-mission checks, and post-mission analysis.
• Maintain and repair vehicle systems, payloads, and supporting ground equipment.
• Operate systems in environments with limited infrastructure or support.
• Provide detailed operational feedback to engineering teams to improve system performance.
• Support business development engagements, demonstrations, and deployments.
• Travel to test sites, customer locations, and operational environments.
• Represent ASR professionally with customers, partners, and government stakeholders.

Skills

UAS/USV/UUV/UGV operations

Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

Field operations experience

Troubleshooting skills

Job description

Location: Remote/Hybrid/United States

Apium Swarm Robotics (ASR) is revolutionizing swarm autonomy software for air, surface, undersea, and ground vehicles operating across dual-use commercial and defense environments. Our systems are deployed on real platforms, tested in the field, and delivered to customers operating in complex, uncertain, and safety-critical conditions. We do not build research prototypes or slideware. Our software is integrated into real vehicles, tested in the field, and delivered to customers who depend on operational reliability, speed of execution, and mission relevance. We prioritize performance over hype. ASR systems represent the next phase in autonomy: collaborative swarming. These are not like pre-programmed drones for light shows. We are creating real-time cooperative management that lets one operator control dozens to hundreds of vehicles in real-time with the ease of controlling a single vehicle. As such, this role requires comfort with responsibility, ambiguity, and operational accountability.

About The Job

Mission Engineering is responsible for deploying, operating, maintaining, and supporting autonomous vehicle systems in real-world environments. This role sits at the intersection of business development, engineering, and field deployment, and is critical to ensuring ASR systems perform reliably outside the lab.

Key Responsibilities

• Deploy, operate, and maintain UAS, USV, UUV, and UGV platforms in the field
• Support mission execution involving autonomous and semi-autonomous systems
• Configure, operate, and troubleshoot autonomy and autopilot hardware/software in real-time operational conditions
• Perform systems integration, pre-mission checks, and post-mission analysis
• Maintain and repair vehicle systems, payloads, and supporting ground equipment
• Operate systems in environments with limited infrastructure, communications, or support
• Provide detailed operational feedback to engineering teams to improve system performance and reliability
• Support business development engagements, demonstrations, customer evaluations, training events, and deployments
• Travel to test sites, customer locations, and operational environments
• Represent ASR professionally with customers, partners, and government stakeholders

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of hands-on experience deploying, operating, or maintaining unmanned systems (UAS, USV, UUV, UGV)
• Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
• Experience operating systems in austere field and/or maritime operational environments
• Strong mechanical, electrical, or systems troubleshooting skills
• Comfort working independently with limited oversight
• Ability to remain calm and effective under operational pressure
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently, sometimes on short notice

Preferred Qualifications

• Military experience operating, maintaining, or deploying unmanned systems in land, air, and maritime domains
• Experience with autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle operations
• Experience supporting defense, maritime, aerospace, or safety-critical commercial operations
• Familiarity with command-and-control systems, mission planning software, or autonomy platforms
• Experience working in classified, export-controlled, or government-adjacent environments
• U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one

Operational Requirements

• Ability to travel, including international travel
• Ability to work irregular hours in support of field operations and deployments
• Ability to lift, transport, and operate heavy field equipment as required

This Role May Be A Good Fit If

• You enjoy operating real systems in the real world
• You are comfortable making decisions with incomplete information
• You take ownership of problems and drive them to resolution
• You communicate clearly under pressure
• You prefer autonomy and responsibility over rigid process

This Role Is Not for You If

• You prefer desk-only or lab-only work
• You are uncomfortable traveling or operating in unfamiliar field conditions
• You require highly structured environments and constant oversight
• You are unwilling to be accountable for operational outcomes

Compensation

Salary Range 110K - 137K plus equity and potential bonuses.