CHAOS Industries · 5 hours ago
Chief Field Systems Engineer
Hawthorne, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$220K/yr - $280K/yrCHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with advanced sensing and detection solutions. The Chief Field Systems Engineer will lead the rollout of multi-static sensor products, ensuring they are rugged, usable, and mission-ready in demanding environments while building and mentoring a high-performing engineering team.
AerospaceGovernmentMilitaryNational Security
Responsibilities
Serve as the lead engineer accountable for performance of expeditionary radar and sensor systems in the field
Own and continuously refine system acceptance criteria for transitioning products from factory to field deployment
Identify, prioritize, and drive updates required to improve field usability, reliability, and performance
Lead ruggedization initiatives (mechanical, electrical, software, procedural) required to achieve true field readiness
Partner with hardware, software, and systems engineering teams to update designs for sustained field operation
Establish and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for successful field deployments, including:
Concept of operations (CONOPS), mission planning, and sensor emplacement for maximum effect
System bring-up, out-of-the-box checks, and startup testing
Field debugging and fault isolation
Mode parameter updates to maximize performance, reduce clutter, and mitigate false alarms
Field calibration procedures for array and system performance
Work closely with system engineers to refine mode parameters, beam scanning techniques, and radar processing approaches based on field results
Build, lead, and mentor a team of Field Systems Engineers and Forward Deployed Engineers
Set technical standards, operating rhythms, and escalation paths for field engineering work
Serve as the senior technical escalation point for complex field issues
Develop best practices for knowledge sharing between field teams and core engineering
Support critical customer engagements and deployments as needed
Translate customer feedback and mission outcomes into actionable engineering priorities
Ensure lessons learned in the field are systematically captured and fed back into product development
Travel up to ~30–40% domestically and internationally to support deployments, testing, and customer engagements
Ability to work in austere environments and support field operations
Must be able to lift and handle equipment (up to ~50 lbs), work outdoors, and support extended on-site deployments
Qualification
Required
Proven ownership of complex hardware–software systems deployed outside of a lab environment
Hands-on experience taking systems from prototype through field testing and operational deployment
Deep understanding of radar, RF sensing, or analogous complex sensor systems
Demonstrated experience mitigating false alarms, clutter, or noise in real-world sensing environments
Experience with array calibration and maintaining system performance over time
Strong systems-level thinking - able to diagnose issues spanning hardware, software, networking, and operations
Experience writing and enforcing technical procedures, acceptance criteria, and field documentation
Ability to lead technical teams through ambiguous, high-pressure situations
Preferred
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, RF Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field or equivalent demonstrated experience
Prior experience leading or building a field engineering, systems engineering, or forward deployed engineering team
Background in defense, aerospace, or national security programs
Experience working directly with customers in operational environments
Familiarity with expeditionary or ruggedized system design
Active or eligible U.S. security clearance
Benefits
Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay)
FSA
HSA
Life insurance
Free daily lunch
‘No meeting Fridays’
Unlimited PTO
Casual dress code
Generous pre-IPO stock option grants
Relocation assistance
Annual bonuses
Company
CHAOS Industries
CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with omniscient systems that give the ultimate advantage—domain dominance.
Founded in 2022
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
CHAOS Industries has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2024 (1)
2023 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1BKey Investors
Valor Equity PartnersAccel,New Enterprise AssociatesAccel
2025-11-13Series D· $510M
2025-04-30Series C· $275M
2024-11-13Series B· $145M
Leadership Team
Bo Marr
Co-founder, co-CEO, CTO of Chaos Industries
John Tenet
Founder & CEO
Recent News
Crunchbase News
2025-12-01
Company data provided by crunchbase