Job Description
Job Description
Title : Applications Engineer – Payload Integration
Location : Germantown, MD (On-site with travel)
Salary : $100,000 - $120,000 + Bonus
Overview
Seeking a customer-facing Applications / Integration Engineer to own the integration, testing, and troubleshooting of EO / IR payloads within customer platforms. This role serves as the technical bridge between the engineering teams in Israel, U.S.-based customers, and prime contractors.
Will be responsible for end-to-end system integration , working across hardware, software, and mechanical interfaces , and will act as the primary technical point of contact during integrations, deployments, and field support.
This is a hands-on, high-visibility role requiring strong systems thinking , comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues in real-world customer environments.
Core Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Engineering, or related field)
- 3+ years of experience in systems engineering, integration, test engineering, or field engineering roles
- Hands-on experience with system-level integration and troubleshooting
- Ability to operate without detailed manuals in dynamic environments
- Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving skills
- Ability to travel 40% annually based upon needs, with 2-3 weeks of initial training internationally
- Experience working with integrated hardware systems (components, subsystems, payloads, or platforms)
- Electrical wiring, connectors, and harnesses
- Power distribution and signal flow
- Mechanical interfaces and physical integration
- Comfort performing assembly / disassembly and field diagnostics
- Experience supporting software-enabled systems or SDK-based integrations
- Understanding of communication protocols, data / message flow, and system interfaces
- Experience in troubleshooting software issues related to upgrades or configuration
- Experience executing or supporting test procedures and system validation
- Ability to interpret test data and communicate results clearly
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with EO / IR, ISR, radar, sensor, UAV, or defense systemsExperience working with government, defense, or security customersPrior customer-facing technical role (Field Engineer, Systems Integrator, Solutions Engineer)Experience supporting international engineering teamsFamiliarity with UAV, maritime, vehicle, or other surveillance platformsKey Responsibilities
System & Payload Integration
Lead integration of EO / IR payloads into customer platformsUnderstand and validate payload-to-platform interfaces , including power, data, mechanical, and communication protocolsSupport both prime and sub-contractor integration scenariosTranslating customer system requirements into actionable technical executionTroubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis
Perform system-level troubleshooting to identify whether issues originate at the component, subsystem, or interface levelAnalyze test outputs, logs, and data to determine root cause and corrective actionsDecide whether issues require :Component replacementSubsystem removalEscalation to engineering teamsSupport rapid issue resolution during factory testing, integration testing, and field deploymentsHardware & Hands-On Technical Work
Perform assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of payloads and integrated systemsTrace electrical wiring, connectors, and harnesses to isolate faultsValidate proper power delivery, signal flow, and mechanical connectionsSupport physical inspections and system validation at customer sitesSoftware & SDK Integration Support
Support software and SDK-based integrations between payloads and customer systemsTroubleshoot communication issues, data / message flow, and integration mismatchesWork with software engineers to resolve bugs related to upgrades, versioning, or configurationInterpret logs and error messages to support integration debuggingTesting & Validation
Execute and support defined test procedures for payloads and integrated systemsValidate system functionality against customer and program requirementsDocument test results and communicate findings to internal teams and customersSupport acceptance testing and deployment readinessCustomer & Internal Collaboration
Serve as the primary technical interface with customers during integrationsClearly explain technical issues, risks, and resolutions to non-specialist stakeholdersCoordinate closely with engineering teams in Israel and U.S. program stakeholdersSupport training, documentation, and knowledge transfer activitiesPersonal Attributes for Success
Self-starter with strong initiative and an ownership mindsetComfortable wearing multiple hats in a fast-moving environmentStrong interpersonal and communication skillsAbility to build trust with customers and internal stakeholdersAdaptable, curious, and motivated to deeply understand complex systemsTraining & Travel
Initial onboarding and technical training in Israel (2–3 weeks)Ongoing collaboration with international engineering teamsPeriodic international and domestic travel for customer support and training (40% annual average)