Operations Specialist, Forward Deployed Engineering

NightDragon Acquisition Corp.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Stock options

Unlimited free drinks and snacks

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Austin, Texas is seeking an experienced Operations Specialist to support their Forward Deployed Engineering team. The successful candidate will manage project schedules, ensure compliance with technical requirements, and oversee logistics for field operations. A Bachelor's degree in engineering or operations and over 3 years of relevant experience in operations and project management are essential. The position offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, and stock options.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in operations, project coordination, or engineering program management.
• Experience managing schedules, budgets, and component delivery timelines.
• Excellent communicator, able to translate between technical teams and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage project schedules and deliverables for FDE initiatives.
• Support the tracking of technical requirements and system capabilities.
• Drive logistics and coordination for customer demos and deployments.

Skills

Project coordination

Operations management

Budget management

Technical documentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or operations

Tools

Project management tools (e.g., Monday, Coda)

ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite)

Job description

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly organized and mission-driven Operations Specialist to support the Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) team. This role combines operational execution with program-level project management. You will be responsible for ensuring that every FDE effort, whether field demo, internal development sprint, or customer deployment, is executed with precision and clarity. You will enable our engineers to focus on high-impact technical work by owning logistics, tracking requirements, and managing project schedules and budgets through cross-functional coordination. You will oversee tactical and strategic responsibilities as a key partner to the FDE Manager, in a chief of staff and project manager capacity.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage project schedules, deliverables, and cross-functional milestones for FDE-led initiatives
• Support the definition, documentation, and tracking of technical requirements and system capabilities
• Run and coordinate structured design reviews to capture decisions and ensure alignment with engineering and product roadmaps
• Track and manage FDE-related budgets, vendor contracts, and spend against plan
• Monitor risks, resourcing constraints, and execution dependencies across fielded projects
• Maintain accurate documentation of Bill of Materials (BOMs), procurement timelines, and key component delivery schedules
• Drive the day-to-day operational rhythm of the FDE team
• Drive logistics and coordination for field operations, customer demos, internal tests, and deployments
• Ensure centralized visibility into team activities via dashboards and regular reporting on deliverables and resource utilization
• Collaborate with engineering, product, legal, and compliance teams to ensure alignment on FDE goals and execution timelines
• Serve as a trusted liaison between the FDE team and internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clear, timely communication and follow-through
• Support scaling the team to an international footprint
• Partner with the FDE Manager to ensure strategic initiatives are staffed, scoped, and executed effectively
• Identify and improve operational inefficiencies across onboarding, documentation, tooling, and knowledge sharing
• Develop and refine process workflows, templates, and coordination mechanisms to scale execution quality and consistency
• Coordinate hiring and onboarding efforts for new FDE team members

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in operations, project coordination, or engineering program management in robotics, aerospace, defense, or a similar field
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, or a related field
• Experience managing schedules, budgets, and component delivery timelines in a hardware and software environment
• Proven experience supporting multi-disciplinary teams in fast-paced, field-driven contexts
• Familiarity with running or supporting design reviews, managing requirements traceability, and coordinating subsystem development efforts
• Proficient in project management tools (e.g., Monday, Coda, MS Excel, or equivalent)
• Detail-oriented, with a systems-level mindset, and the ability to manage technical documentation and execution workflows
• Excellent communicator and able to translate between technical teams, external partners, and operational stakeholders
• Self-starter with a strong bias toward ownership and a pragmatic, get-things-done attitude
• Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite), MRP systems (e.g., ION), and BOM management tools (e.g., Arena)
• Familiarity with U.S. defense contracting, DoD logistics, and proposal/IRAD tracking is preferred

Benefits

• Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
• Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care
• Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
• Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays
• Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents
• Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan
• Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success
• Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
• Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Occasional standing and walking within the officeManual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
• Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports
• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies
• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages)

This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).