Kela is hiring a Forward Deployed Engineer to act as the technical bridge between its core engineering teams and end users. The role focuses on the technical development, integration, fielding, and optimization of Kela products directly with customers in operational environments. You will work side-by-side with end users to understand mission challenges, drive product development through operational learnings, and translate program requirements into actionable project plans. The position requires hands-on troubleshooting and deployment of hardware and software solutions under real operational pressures, representing the customer while shaping products that address national and international security challenges.

Responsibilities

Work side-by-side with our end users to understand their specific mission challenges and represent the customer as you work with Kela engineers to shape products that solve critical national and international security challenges.
Own the development and fielding of Kela systems for end users, which includes:
Driving technical outcomes through meticulous understanding of system performance, drive product development through operational learnings and data, own the technical narrative from product delivery through continuous improvements. Credibly represent our system in front of technical and nontechnical clients
Bringing clarity to the path between engineering development and operational delivery. Whether through sprint planning and execution or on-the-ground support of test events, attack blockers and guide the team through fast-paced execution to deliver the optimal technical outcome for the client.
Translate strategic business goals and program requirements into actionable project plans, setting clear milestones, and driving initiatives from conception through to successful completion, ensuring they deliver intended outcomes and add value to the business. Oversee the allocation of personnel, budget, and other resources to ensure successful execution of these initiatives. When possible, lead with data.

Requirements

Must be a US Citizen.
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a US Security Clearance.
5+ years of experience in systems engineering, field robotics, or a technical deployment role within the aerospace, defense, or high-performance robotics sectors.
Demonstrate extreme technical ownership and autonomy in isolated environments; must be highly self-sufficient while maintaining strategic communication with HQ during critical mission milestones.
Hands-on expertise with communication interfaces and configuring edge compute modules under localized constraints.
Demonstrated success in high-tempo, "0-to-1" environments where you must rapidly deploy, iterate, and validate hardware or software fixes.
A "roll-up-your-sleeves" attitude; you are as comfortable debugging code at a tactical edge range as you are coordinating blueprints with engineering leads.
Proficiency in Notion, Slack, and modern configuration management tools.

Nice to have

Active Security Clearance (Secret or Top Secret).
Background as a conventional/unconventional ordnance specialist, UAV operator, EOD technician, or fire control specialist within the US Armed Forces or allied defense environments.
Experience navigating complex software architectures, Kubernetes-based microservices, or custom API gateways at the tactical edge.
Prior experience with dual-use technologies, rapid prototyping for the Department of War, or direct-to-government fielding initiatives.

FDE- US Site

Responsibilities

Requirements

Nice to have