UAS Field Network & Security Engineer

IT Motives; Bingen (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

IT Motives seeks a hands-on Network Engineer to own stability, security, and real-time diagnostics of UAS communications to ground control stations. You will engineer resilient VPN, firewall, and wireless architectures across Linux and Windows in field environments.

Role emphasizes tactical/expeditionary comms, remote SCADA familiarity, and mature debugging capabilities with strong TCP/IP knowledge. Strong scripting skills and field support are valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/EE or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on network engineering and field communications experience.
• Experience configuring and troubleshooting VPNs, firewalls, and routing on Windows and Linux.
• Experience with wireless/RF networking and satellite communications (Starlink, VSAT, etc.).
• Ability to design and scale network architectures and create repeatable deployment approaches.
• Scripting or automation in PowerShell or Python for basic tools and health checks.
• Proven ability to stabilize imperfect networks and reduce operator support burden.
• Strong TCP/IP fundamentals including NAT, DNS, DHCP, and routing.
• Experience with pfSense, iptables/nftables, and secure remote access policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and evolution of network architecture across VPNs, firewalls, RF relays, Starlink links, and GCS connectivity.
• Configure and maintain VPN servers/clients, firewalls, and routing across Windows and Linux.
• Design scalable network architectures with repeatable configurations and deployment approaches.
• Manage data flows between field UAS/GCS and home-base infrastructure.
• Maintain network topology docs and configuration standards across deployments.
• Diagnose and resolve remote network issues, including RF/satellite links and latency.
• Establish monitoring, logging, alerting, and health checks for proactive visibility.
• Develop diagnostics tools and dashboards with software engineering for operators.
• Provide in-field support for complex network issues and root-cause analysis to improve reliability.
• Create and update SOPs and operator documentation for field personnel.

Skills

VPN configuration

Firewall configuration

Linux

Windows

TCP/IP fundamentals

Scripting: PowerShell

Scripting: Python

Network troubleshooting

WISP field networking

Starlink satellite

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering or related field

Tools

pfSense

iptables/nftables

Starlink

VPN technologies (n2n/peer-based)

Job description

IT Motives seeks a hands-on Network Engineer to own stability, security, and real-time diagnostics of UAS communications to ground control stations. You will engineer resilient VPN, firewall, and wireless architectures across Linux and Windows in field environments.

Role emphasizes tactical/expeditionary comms, remote SCADA familiarity, and mature debugging capabilities with strong TCP/IP knowledge. Strong scripting skills and field support are valued.