Staff Solutions Engineer Imagery

The Ed Wallach Search Group; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ed Wallach Search Group is seeking a Staff Solutions Engineer in Sioux Falls ( Arlington, VA also). You will serve as the technical bridge between our stratospheric balloon technology and customer needs, engaging with defense, telecommunications, and environmental monitoring partners.

You will design mission profiles, translate complex requirements for Product and R&D, and help position our technology as a compelling business solution in a competitive global market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or related field preferred.
• 10+ years of job experience preferred, with 4+ years as a technical or business leader.
• Experience in commercial data sales and market strategy.
• MBA, PMP, or systems certifications are a plus.
• Willingness to travel (<50%).

Responsibilities

• Architect solutions by partnering with customers to design mission profiles using our platforms and partner tech.
• Translate field requirements into actionable insights for Product and R&D teams.
• Analyze the competitive landscape to refine value proposition and market positioning.
• Lead technical demonstrations and pilot programs to prove ROI of near-space solutions.
• Oversee mission design and payload integrations for stratospheric environments.

Skills

Customer-focused

Strategic thinker

Technical fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or related field

MBA

PMP

Systems certifications

Job description

Location: Sioux Falls, SD

Security Clearance: US Citizen/Clearable

This role can also be located in Arlington, VA

As our Staff Solutions Engineer, you will be the technical bridge between our stratospheric balloon technology and the real-world challenges of our customers. You'll sit at the intersection of high-altitude hardware, data delivery, and market strategy. This is not a "behind-the-desk" engineering role. You are a problem-solver who thrives on customer interaction. You will work directly with partners in defense, telecommunications, and environmental monitoring to translate their "what ifs" into "here's how." You'll also be a key voice in our commercial strategy - helping us figure out not just how the tech works, but how we position it to win in a competitive global market.

What You'll Do

• Architect Solutions: Partner with customers to deeply understand their pain points and design mission profiles using our stratospheric platforms, payloads, and partner technology.
• Bridge the Gap: Translate complex technical requirements from the field into actionable insights for our internal Product and R&D teams.
• Strategic Positioning: Analyze the competitive landscape to help refine our value proposition. You'll identify where our tech beats the competition and help us lean into those markets.
• Technical Sales Support: Lead technical demonstrations and pilot programs, proving the ROI of "near-space" solutions.
• Mission Design: Oversee the technical feasibility of payload integrations, ensuring customer sensors and tech are optimized for the stratospheric environment.

What We are Looking For

• Technically Fluent: You have an engineering background (Aerospace, EE, Systems, or similar) and can speak confidently about link budgets, payload integration, and atmospheric conditions.
• Customer-Focused: You enjoy the "discovery" phase - asking the right questions to uncover what a client actually needs versus what they think they want.
• Strategic Thinker: You don't just build; you look at the market. You understand pricing, competitive models, and how to pitch technology as a business solution.
• The "Plus" Factor (Preferred): You have experience in Commercial Imagery/Remote Sensing. If you've sold or integrated SAR, EO/IR, or hyperspectral data, you'll hit the ground running.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or related field preferred
• The best candidates will have a strong background in commercial data sales, and not just from the technical side - from the market and strategy side
• 10+ years job experience preferred, with 4+ years as a technical or business leader
• MBA, PMP, Systems certifications a plus
• Travel: Some travel expected (<50%)