--- title: 'Field Applications Engineer at 9 Mothers' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/field-applications-engineer-9-mothers-austin-v24ehz59sryw' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-14' --- # Field Applications Engineer at 9 Mothers - **Company:** 9 Mothers - **Location:** Austin, TX - **Compensation:** $95k–$125k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-07-27 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-14 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/9-mothers/32220c7f-c577-475a-9a97-e06f3c28ae47 ## Job description Location: Onsite — Austin, TX Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full-Time Job Title: Field Applications Engineer ## About 9 Mothers The modern battlefield has changed. Cheap, autonomous suicide drones have turned the tactical advantage upside down, and the world is looking for a solution. At 9 Mothers, we aren’t just "innovating"—we are building the shield. Backed by top-tier investors, we develop AI powered machines designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real-time. Our flagship product is a low-power, counter-drone system built for the edge—on vehicles, at bases, or in a soldier's pack. Why 9 Mothers? While others build for "awareness" or "long-term research," we build for the immediate survival of those in harm’s way. We are a team of hackers, engineers, and mission-driven builders who value field-ready capability over polished slide decks. If you want to see your code or hardware in the field next month—not next year—this is your playground. Position Summary We are seeking a Field Applications Engineer (Demo Engineer) to serve as the critical bridge between our engineering lab and real-world deployment. You will be the hands-on expert responsible for bringing our autonomous c-sUAS platforms to life in front of active-duty end users, government partners, and key stakeholders. From flashing software builds and calibrating multi-sensor payloads in the lab to operating systems and troubleshooting hardware live on the test range, you ensure zero-fail execution when the pressure is on. Essential Duties - Demo Operations & Execution: Lead live, dynamic flight and target-tracking demonstrations in field environments, operating autonomous counter-drone systems flawlessly under high-stakes conditions. - System Preparation & Hardware Setup: Prepare, assemble, and check complex autonomous hardware and edge-compute systems prior to field tests and customer demonstrations. - On-Site & Field Calibration: Perform precise hardware and sensor alignment, including boresighting, thermal/EO camera focusing, lens calibration, and multi-sensor orientation. - Software Deployment & Validation: Flash latest software builds, test system stability, perform integration tests, and ensure firmware/software readiness for field trials. - Rapid Field Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve unexpected hardware, software, networking, and sensor issues on the fly with minimal downtime during field trials. - Feedback Loop: Serve as the direct link between field reality and R&D, capturing detailed telemetry, edge cases, and user feedback to inform engineering rapid iteration cycles. - Linux Shell & Networking: Highly comfortable working in a Linux shell environment with a strong understanding of TCP/IP networking, routing, and system diagnostics. ## Requirements - Hands-on Field/Demo Experience: Demonstrated experience deploying, operating, or troubleshooting complex hardware/software systems in real-world or live-fire test range environments. - Technical Calibration Skills: Practical experience with optical/camera calibration (focus, boresighting), sensor alignment, and field validation techniques. - System Administration & Tooling: Proficient in Linux CLI environments, firmware/software flashing tools, and basic networking/telemetry debugging. - Hardware & Electronics Proficiency: Experience with harness assembly, field repair, cable building, and multimeters/oscilloscopes for quick edge-side hardware fixes. - Travel & Physical Requirements: Willingness to travel to outdoor testing sites and demonstration ranges; comfortable working outdoors in varying terrain and weather conditions. - Compliance: This position requires access to export-controlled information under ITAR. Only U.S. citizens are permitted. Must be willing to submit a background check. Nice-to-Have - Prior experience with robotics, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), counter-UAS (c-UAS), or defense range operations. - Familiarity with thermal/IR optics, RF sensors, or embedded Linux environments (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson). - Prior defense startup experience or military background in range safety/flight test operations. - Security clearance or the ability to obtain one. - A passion for building or engineering robotics or electronics as a hobby. ## Benefits - Meaningful Early Equity: You aren't just an employee; you are a foundational owner. Your contributions directly drive the value of your stake in the company. - Direct Roadmap Influence: Forget the bureaucracy of big defense. You will have a seat at the table, directly shaping our product and technology trajectory from day one. - Mission-Critical Work: We don't build for "what if." We build systems the Department of War actively needs to counter immediate, real-world threats. - The Builder's Playground: Work in a brand-new lab fully optimized for rapid prototyping, equipped with NVIDIA Jetsons, high-end scopes, and 3-D printers. - 100% Employer-Paid Premiums: We cover 100% of your medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums and cover 50% of healthcare premiums for your dependents. - Unlimited PTO: We value results, not clock-watching. Take the time you need to stay sharp and recharge. - Zero Red Tape: You report to the founders. You have the autonomy to make technical decisions that would take months of committee approval at a larger firm. - Austin-Based Culture: Join an onsite team in Austin, TX, where we prioritize high-bandwidth collaboration and rapid field-testing. - Relocation Assistance: We want the best talent in the room. If you aren't in Austin yet, we’ll help you get here, to make your transition to the Silicon Hills seamless. ## About the Interview - Initial Screening with recruiter - 30 min phone call - 1st Round Virtual Interview - peer engineer + either Director or CTO (1.5hr via MS Teams) - 2nd Round Onsite Interview - CTO + Director + VP + peer(s) (~ 6 hours in-person) **will fly out candidates that are not local - Reference checks & offer ## About 9 Mothers ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: 9 Mothers builds autonomous counter-drone defense systems for the U.S. military, specializing in fast, low-cost point defense against close-range FPV and swarm drone threats. - **Entity Type**: Private (backed by Y Combinator, Batch Spring 2026) - **Headquarters**: Austin, Texas, United States - **Founded**: 2024 - **Founders**: Russell Smith (CEO), Roman Khomenko (COO), Bogdan Pyzh ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Defense technology / Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) - **Target customers**: B2G (U.S. Department of Defense, prime contractors, military operators) - **Mission**: “Defense must move at the speed of the threat.” Build weapons the U.S. and its allies can afford to use at scale, delivered on software-like iteration cycles. ## Products & Services - **[Edda](https://9mothers.com)**: AI point defense turret (shipping now). Ultra-fast motion platform (<15 ms slew, <1.5 arcmin precision) with shotgun effector for engaging FPV drones at 10–100 m. Fully autonomous-capable, zero RF signature, ~23 kg form factor. - **[Vor](https://9mothers.com)**: Passive acoustic sensor (available Q1 2027). Zero-RF detection of drones using intrinsic acoustics, coarse tracking refined by onboard visual model. Feeds into the kill chain. - **[Atla](https://9mothers.com)**: Belt-fed shotgun system (available Q1 2027). Continuous-fire close-range engagement designed for sustained drone swarms where ammunition discipline is critical. - **[Gleipnir](https://9mothers.com)**: Counter-Shahed / Group 2 system (available 2027). Clean answer to one-way attack drones, cost-per-shot under $10k. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (private company) - **Key Metric**: $1.6 million in sales (YC profile); multiple systems delivered to the Department of Defense - **Notable Investors**: Backed by Y Combinator (Primary Partner: Garry Tan) - **Growth Signals**: Team size of 19 (as of Spring 2026), 11 open job roles across engineering, proven revenue with existing contracts, three additional products under development with pre‑demand ## Competitive Advantages - Vertically scoped: own perception, tracking, and engagement end‑to‑end – no multi‑vendor integration - Hardware built on software discipline: small batches, fast cycle time, instrumented field data, no multi‑year waterfall - Cost‑per‑shot, manufacturability, and serviceability are first‑class design constraints (weapons the U.S. can afford to fire at scale) - Operator‑first design: infantry‑mobile, low mass, low power, minimal setup time ## Strategic Focus - Scaling production and fielding Edda immediately (shipping now) - Delivering three follow‑on products (Vor, Atla, Gleipnir) in 2027 - Deepening partnerships with DoD primes and procurement teams - Aggressively hiring engineers in perception (ML, CV, audio), robotics, hardware, embedded, and test to accelerate development ## Why Work Here - **Location & Policy**: Austin, TX – fully in‑person on‑site (office, bench, range). No remote. - **Engineering culture**: “Hardware on software tempo” – range data drives next‑day iteration; engineers own a system, not a Jira ticket. Typical day: range setup, live‑fire testing, operator debrief, bench rework, next‑day spec. - **Impact**: Work is fielded quickly (months, not years) in a high‑stakes counter‑drone domain. “The work is the perk.” - **Roles open**: 11 positions including Senior/Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Computer Vision Engineer, Robotics Engineer, Electrical Engineer, R&D Test Engineer, Embedded Engineer (BSP), etc. - **Team size**: ~19 people, tight‑knit, flat structure. Recruiter contact not accepted – direct applications via jobs@9mothers.com or Ashby portal. ## Sources 1. [9mothers.com](https://9mothers.com/) 2. [9mothers.com/company](https://9mothers.com/company) 3. [9mothers.com/careers](https://9mothers.com/careers) 4. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/9-mothers](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/9-mothers) 5. [ycombinator.com/companies/9-mothers-corporation](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/9-mothers-corporation) ## Other roles at 9 Mothers - [Mechanical Engineer, Senior](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-senior-9-mothers-austin-c6zcef7djy0r) — Austin, TX - [Integration Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/integration-engineer-9-mothers-austin-9c8zqy6y5s0c) — Austin, TX - [R&D Test Engineer, Senior](https://feeny.ai/job/r-d-test-engineer-senior-9-mothers-austin-yf1bp2zhznn9) — Austin, TX - [R&D Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/r-d-test-engineer-9-mothers-austin-zwbm2wjspx3h) — Austin, TX - [Perception Engineer, Senior](https://feeny.ai/job/perception-engineer-senior-9-mothers-austin-ccgmjc215z0y) — Austin, TX - [Robotics Engineer, Staff](https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-engineer-staff-9-mothers-austin-dr6x193qpb0s) — Austin, TX - [Robotics Engineer, Senior](https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-engineer-senior-9-mothers-austin-g9peh2nbkq30) — Austin, TX - [Field Applications Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/field-applications-engineer-toradex-bengaluru-sn8dkjkcer3g) — Bengaluru, India - [Field Applications Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/field-applications-engineer-astera-labs-taipei-y7vzdmbheg8x) — Taipei, Taiwan - [Field Applications Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/field-applications-engineer-copia-automation-wmv73mc0139q)