CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with omniscient systems purpose-built for today's realities. Designed and built by top U.S. military veterans and Silicon Valley innovators, CHAOS Industries' products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats. In a world where technological threats move at unprecedented speed, CHAOS Industries delivers advanced sensing and detection solutions that give the ultimate advantage: time.CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised $1B in total funding from leading investors including 8VC, Accel, and NEA. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Seattle, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.Role OverviewThis is an exciting opportunity to lead the roll out of our paradigm shifting multi-static sensor products, roll outnew technologyto the field, build a field system engineering team from the ground up, and see the products through successful field testing to maximize performance.The Chief Field Systems Engineer is the technical and operational owner of CHAOS' expeditionary radar and sensor systems once they leave the factory and meet the real world. This role exists to close the gap between design intent and field reality-ensuring our systems are rugged, usable, performant, and mission-ready in the most demanding environments.You'llsit at the intersection of product engineering, systems engineering, mission operations, and customers.You'llcollaborate closely with design engineers, system architects, product leaders, mission teams, and Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) to translatecutting-edgetechnology into reliable fielded capability. Just as importantly,you'llbuild and lead a high-performing Field Systems Engineering organization from the ground up.Team mandate & collaboration:This team exists to make sure our systems work - not just in theory, but in the dirt, on-site, under time pressure.You'llpartner daily with Systems Engineering, Hardware, Software, Product, Mission Operations, and customers. Expect a hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up environment where clear thinking, strong judgment, and technical credibility matter.Whatyou'llown:You will have complete ownership of the transition from "factory complete" to "field ready," including acceptance criteria, ruggedization, field procedures, and continuous performance improvement based on real-world use.ResponsibilitiesTechnical & Field OwnershipServe as the lead engineer accountable for performance of expeditionary radar and sensor systems in the fieldOwn and continuously refine system acceptance criteria for transitioning products from factory to field deploymentIdentify, prioritize, and drive updates required to improve field usability, reliability, and performanceLead ruggedization initiatives (mechanical, electrical, software, procedural) required to achieve true field readinessPartner with hardware, software, and systems engineering teams to update designs for sustained field operationField Operations & SOP DevelopmentEstablish 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 testingField debugging and fault isolationMode parameter updates to maximize performance, reduce clutter, and mitigate false alarmsField calibration procedures for array and system performanceWork closely with system engineers to refine mode parameters, beam scanning techniques, and radar processing approaches based on field resultsLeadership & Team BuildingBuild, lead, and mentor a team of Field Systems Engineers and Forward Deployed EngineersSet technical standards, operating rhythms, and escalation paths for field engineering workServe as the senior technical escalation point for complex field issuesDevelop best practices for knowledge sharing between field teams and core engineeringCustomer & Mission InterfaceSupport critical customer engagements and deployments as neededTranslate customer feedback and mission outcomes into actionable engineering prioritiesEnsure lessons learned in the field are systematically captured and fed back into product developmentTravel & Physical DemandsTravel up to ~30-40% domestically and internationally to support deployments, testing, and customer engagementsAbility to work in austere environments and support field operationsMust be able to lift and handle equipment (up to ~50 lbs), work outdoors, and support extended on-site deploymentsMinimumRequirementsProven ownership of complex hardware-software systems deployed outside of a lab environmentHands-on experience taking systems from prototype through field testing and operational deploymentDeep understanding of radar, RF sensing, or analogous complex sensor systemsDemonstrated experience mitigating false alarms, clutter, or noise in real-world sensing environmentsExperience with array calibration and maintaining system performance over timeStrong systems-level thinking - able to diagnose issues spanning hardware, software, networking, and operationsExperience writing and enforcing technical procedures, acceptance criteria, and field documentationAbility to lead technical teams through ambiguous, high-pressure situationsPreferred RequirementsMaster's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, RF Engineering, Physics, or a related technical fieldor equivalentdemonstratedexperiencePrior experience leading or building a field engineering, systems engineering, or forward deployed engineering teamBackground in defense, aerospace, or national security programsExperience working directly with customers in operational environmentsFamiliarity with expeditionary or ruggedized system designActive or eligible U.S. security clearanceWhy CHAOS?Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the companyAdditional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and moreOur Perks: Free daily lunch, 'No meeting Fridays', unlimited PTO, casual dress codeCompensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonusesTeam Growth: 200 employees and counting across 5 global officesSalary Range: $220,000 - $280,000The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.#LI-onsite