Position Title: Senior Forward Deployed Engineer
Location: Remote with up to 75% travel
Clearance Requirement: Secret
Employment type: Full Time
Research Innovations, Inc. (RII) is breaking through the big, slow status quo with transformative technology that fundamentally improves the world. We build advanced software solutions for government and military missions, applying agile development and user-centered design to solve complex, mission-critical problems.
RII is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to support global fielding of our Tactical NetOps solution. This role is ideal for a technically strong, mission-driven individual who thrives in tactical environments, operates independently, and bridges the gap between engineering and real-world deployment. You will work directly with operational users while collaborating with engineering teams to continuously improve system performance, usability, and mission impact.
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING
Travel frequently (up to 75%) to military installations to support system fielding, integration, and training
Install, configure, and validate software across distributed physical systems in austere environments
Partner with operators and soldiers to tailor system configurations to mission needs
Troubleshoot complex system and network issues and drive resolution to completion
Conduct root cause analysis and document findings for continuous improvement
Collaborate with engineering teams to identify bugs, influence design decisions, and implement enhancements
Validate system performance against operational use cases and evolving mission requirements
Develop and improve training materials, technical documentation, and field guides
Deliver clear, concise briefings and reports to customers and internal stakeholders
Support test events, exercises, and deployments, ensuring system readiness and reliability
WHAT YOU HAVE DONE
6+ years of experience in military tactical environments with understanding of Army signal operations
Experience in Systems Administration, DevOps, or Networking
Strong experience with Linux-based systems and Kubernetes/containerized environments
Hands-on experience with virtualization technologies (e.g., ESXi, vSphere)
Solid understanding of Layer 2/Layer 3 networking (VLANs, subnetting, VPNs, DNS)
Experience with network monitoring and management protocols (SNMP, Syslog, NETCONF)
Proven ability to operate independently in high-tempo, mission-critical environments
Strong troubleshooting and analytical problem-solving skills
Experience interfacing directly with end users in operational settings
EVEN BETTER
Experience supporting Program of Record (POR) fielding activities
Prior experience embedded with operational units during exercises or deployments
Familiarity with Army tactical communications infrastructure
Experience in Agile software development environments
Background in training development and delivery
Prior military service
Experience with tools and technologies such as:
RHEL, K3s, K9s
ESXi, vSphere
Argo CD, Zarf packages
Experience supporting fielded operational systems lifecycle (deployment → sustainment)
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