Forward Deployed Lead (Air and Missile Defense)

Company Overview

We are a rapidly growing defense technology startup focused on delivering next-generation integrated air and missile defense capabilities. Our mission is to provide resilient, scalable, and operationally effective systems to U.S. and international customers worldwide. We are building a world-class team to support deployment, sustainment, and long-term mission success.

Position Summary

We need a field-first forward deployed operations leader to be the company's primary bridge between the warfighter and the design team. This is a foundational forward-deployed role and a player-coach seat for the first 6 to 12 months; you'll build the function from scratch and run it yourself before you scale it. This is a hands-on role meaning you will spend time turning wrenches, using a multi-meter, and troubleshooting novel systems downrange. You'll technically support transitional systems as we field them, build training plans, train end users, run demos and deployments, capture operator feedback, and translate real-world operational needs into action for engineering, product, and growth. The person who wins this role lives in the field by choice. Not someone who tolerates travel, someone who wants to be downrange, at the test, or with the operator, and is restless anywhere else. You'll cycle fluidly between operators, engineers, and customers, moving between an austere field site and a program office in the same week and being credible in both rooms.

Key Responsibilities

• Be the tip of the spear for Arxlight's systems as they transition from the lab and test fields to customer deployments, driving activities including maintenance concepts, sparing strategies, and training systems for air and missile defense platforms
• Establish and scale a high-performing forward-deployed support and reach-back capabilities
• Design and execute forward-deployed support models for operational customers globally
• Support business development activities, including shaping, capture, and execution for U.S. and international customers
• Ensure readiness, reliability, and lifecycle performance of deployed systems through data-driven sustainment practices
• Interface with government and industry partners to deliver mission success
• Drive continuous improvement across sustainment operations, incorporating feedback from fielded systems

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in defense programs, with a focus on integrated air and missile defense systems.

• A track record of choosing the field, you've spent your career finding ways to be where the operating happens, not behind a desk.

• Demonstrated leadership experience building and managing high-performing technical and operational teams

• Deep technical expertise in air and missile defense systems and their sustainment

• Strong technical acumen an ability to deploy, bring-up, and troubleshoot electrical and electro-mechanical systems. You can debug basic systems without relying on manuals or design engineers, including:

Electronics and mechanical troubleshooting skills (multimeter, basic mechanical tools)

Basic IT troubleshooting (SSH, flashing, etc)

Ability to read and modify configuration files, system logs, and apply firmware updates

Ability to read basic technical drawings (wire harness, electrical block diagrams, etc)

• Field-level repair/ hands on skills (wire harnesses, soldering, and basic hand tools, etc)

• Strong technical acumen paired bias toward developing and implementing sustainment systems.

• Demonstrated work ethic and commitment to delivering mission-critical outcomes

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively across technical teams, executives, and external stakeholders

• Impeccable integrity, accountability, and mission focus

• Possess, or have the ability to get, a Secret Clearance

Desired Qualifications/Nice To Have

• Experience with tactical and operational sustainment in deployed environments

• Experience writing technical training materials or standard operating procedures (SOPs)

• Experience working with international partners

• Software skills / programming (scripting, python, GIT, TAK, etc.)

• Understanding of tactical network protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, MAVLink, or similar C2 messaging standards)

• Experience with battery-operated systems

• Background spanning both government and defense industry roles

• Ability to get a FAA Part 107 license

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to build and lead a critical function from the ground up
• Direct impact on national and global security missions
• Collaborative environment with experienced leadership and cutting-edge technology
• Competitive compensation and benefits package

We want to talk if: You've taken a defense product from ready at the test site to ready in field. You've stood in front of operators using something brand new and gotten them proficient. You've taken what they said, what they did, and what broke, and turned it into changes engineers could act on. Going home from the field feels like the hard part, not the reward.

Not a fit if: Your first step in any problem is to ask the subject domain expert, you haven't supported novel technology fielding, you want a desk or a staff role, or field time is something you'd tolerate rather than seek out.