Forward Deployed Engineer H/F

ABOUT ALTA ARES Alta Ares is an air defense Neoprime. We build AI-guided interceptors to counter drones and cruise missiles, along with the software platform that powers them. Our customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and our systems are regularly deployed during live exercises and operational demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Founded in 2024, we have grown to 90 people, raised over $60M, and increased revenue 40× this year. We are now entering a new phase of international expansion, industrial scaling, fundraising, and product development. ROLE & MISSION As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you will take Alta Ares’ autonomous air-defense systems from the lab to the field, deploying, integrating, testing, troubleshooting and improving them alongside military operators and customers. You will work at the intersection of Engineering, Product and Operations, across our interceptors, AI guidance, mission-management software, sensors and customer C2 systems. This is not a traditional support role. You will own technical outcomes in real operational environments, often under time pressure and with incomplete information. You should be equally comfortable writing code, debugging systems, analysing telemetry and working directly with operators on a test range. DEPLOYMENT & FIELD OPERATIONS - Prepare and execute customer deployments, live-fire exercises, demonstrations and acceptance trials. - Deploy and validate Alta Ares systems, including interceptors, AI guidance and Cyclops mission-management capabilities. - Configure systems, networks and interfaces and execute test scenarios against defined success criteria. - Work directly with military operators, test teams, integrators and partners. - Troubleshoot issues rapidly in the field while maintaining safety and mission objectives. - Document test results, incidents, lessons learned and follow-up actions. SYSTEMS INTEGRATION - Integrate Alta Ares systems with sensors, radars, C2 systems, networks and third-party platforms. - Develop scripts, configuration tools, APIs and integration components required for deployments. - Translate operational requirements into practical technical solutions. - Execute integration and acceptance testing across software, hardware, communications and system performance. - Work closely with Software, AI, Embedded, GNC, Hardware and Product teams. TROUBLESHOOTING & PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT - Diagnose issues across software, hardware, GNC, sensors, networking, communications, and operator workflows. - Use logs, telemetry and test data to identify root causes. - Implement safe field workarounds and drive permanent fixes with Engineering. - Improve system observability, diagnostics, deployment automation, and reliability. - Contribute to hardening systems for GNSS-denied, disconnected, and degraded environments. - Turn field experience into concrete product improvements and reusable solutions. CUSTOMER & TECHNICAL INTERFACE - Build trusted relationships with military operators, engineers, integrators, and program stakeholders. - Deliver technical briefings, training, and system onboarding in English and French. - Communicate system capabilities, limitations, and technical risks clearly. - Represent Alta Ares with technical credibility during high-stakes demonstrations and exercises. - Create deployment guides, runbooks, and troubleshooting procedures. CANDIDATE PROFILE - 3–7 years in software engineering, systems integration, robotics, embedded systems, DevOps/SRE, solutions engineering or a similar hands-on technical role. - Strong Python and Linux skills, with good understanding of networking, APIs, logs and distributed systems. - Proven experience deploying and debugging complex hardware/software systems outside a controlled development environment. - Ability to understand and troubleshoot systems end-to-end. - Experience with UAVs, robotics, autonomous systems, AI/ML, sensors or mission-management systems is highly relevant. - Defense, aerospace, C-UAS, ISR or other mission-critical experience is a strong plus. - Experience working directly with demanding customers or end users in the field is highly valued. SKILLS & QUALITIES - Hands-on and technically curious, comfortable moving between code, hardware, networks, telemetry, and field operations. - Calm and structured under pressure, with strong operational judgment. - High ownership and able to solve ambiguous problems independently. - Strong communicator who can translate between operators and engineering teams. - Pragmatic, balancing speed, performance, safety and maintainability. - Comfortable with frequent travel and flexible hours during deployments and exercises. - Fluent English required; professional French strongly preferred. - High integrity and discretion when handling sensitive defense technologies. - Entrepreneurial mindset and comfortable operating in a fast-growing environment.