Field Operations Lead (Federal)

FieldAI’s Irvine team is where embodied AI meets real robots, real sensors, and real field deployments. Based in the heart of Southern California’s robotics ecosystem, we build risk-aware, reliable, field-ready AI systems that solve the hardest problems in robotics and unlock the full potential of embodied intelligence. If you want your work to ship, get tested on hardware, and improve through real deployments, Irvine is the place. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-only architectures, combining rigorous engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field. Who are We? FieldAIis transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications. Learn more at https://fieldai.com. About the Job FieldAI is seeking a Field Operations Lead to drive the mission of our Large Autonomy Group and Federal Team. You will lead the effort to operate large autonomous systems in complex, remote, and challenging environments, covering developmental and operational testing, customer deployments, hardware integration, by-wire installation, and field test execution strategy. The ideal candidate combines strong people leadership with hands-on technical judgment and field operations experience. You are comfortable working directly with Field Application Engineers, Technical leads and customer stakeholders and you know how to create structure in a fast-moving, high-growth environment. What You Will Get To Do

• Lead day-to-day field operations, including test planning, experimentation, and execution.

• Manage the ground vehicle fleet to maximize uptime, including preventative and operational maintenance and equipment recovery.

• Own safe operations in the field, setting and enforcing safety practices.

• Plan and manage parts inventory for anticipated repairs, with particular attention to long-lead and hard-to-source components.

• Organize field equipment and coordinate logistics for deployments.

• Lead integration of hardware components onto customer vehicles, including complex by-wire development, testing, and installation.

• Support customer deployments in the field.

What You Have

• Bachelor’s degree in robotics, engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

• Significant experience in field applications engineering, robotics deployment, systems integration, technical operations, or a comparable customer-facing engineering function.

• Demonstrated experience leading, developing and managing technical field teams.

• Experience building or scaling field operations across multiple customers, sites, or geographic regions.

• Strong understanding of complex hardware and software systems, ideally involving robotics, autonomous systems, industrial automation, technical infrastructure or other deployed advanced technology.

• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent deployments and balance customer urgency, technical complexity, staffing constraints, and business priorities.

• Strong troubleshooting and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to lead teams through ambiguous and high-pressure field situations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with technical teams, frontline operators, customer executives, and internal leadership.

• Strong organizational and operational discipline, including experience developing processes, documentation, training programs, and performance metrics.

• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require.
  

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience deploying robotic or autonomous systems in challenging, complex environments.

• Experience supporting customers in industries such as energy, manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, logistics, aerospace, defense, or infrastructure.

• Familiarity with Linux, networking, sensors, robotic hardware, autonomy software, and system-level diagnostics.

• Experience managing distributed or international technical teams.

• Experience operating within a high-growth technology company where products and processes are evolving rapidly.

• Knowledge of industrial site safety, commissioning practices, and customer acceptance procedures.

• Experience supporting the transition from early-stage pilots and demonstrations to repeatable, production-scale deployments.

Our salary range is generous and we consider each individual’s background and experience when determining final compensation. Base pay may vary based on role scope, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and the Irvine, California market.   Why Join FieldAI in Irvine? In Irvine, you will work where the robots are. Our local team builds and tests systems on real hardware with real sensors, then ships them to operate in unstructured, previously unknown environments around the world. We are solving one of robotics’ hardest challenges: reliable deployment outside the lab. Our Field Foundational Models™ raise the bar for perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, with an emphasis on explainability and safety for real-world use. You will collaborate with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. We bring deep experience from organizations such as DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, along with a track record of field deployments and strong performance in DARPA challenge segments.   Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution We are looking for builders who want their work to leave the whiteboard and show up on robots. If you enjoy tackling tough, uncharted questions and working across disciplines, you will find your people here. Our teams span AI, software, robotics engineering, product, field deployment, and technical communication, all focused on shipping systems that perform in the real world.   Our headquarters is in Irvine, and we partner closely with teams there as well as colleagues across the US and around the world. Join us in Southern California and help define what dependable, field-ready autonomy looks like.   We value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We evaluate candidates and employees based on merit, qualifications, and performance, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.