Job Title: Forward Deployed Infrastructure Engineer Company Name: SITREP LLC Job Url: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/embed/job_app?for=sitrepsllc&jr_id=69b19d52d04c69566c73e856&token=4180811009&utm_source=jobright Job Description: Forward Deployed Infrastructure Engineer Arlington, VA Forward Deployed Infrastructure Engineer Location: Arlington, VA Employment Type: Full-Time Compensation: 170-220 + equity depending on experience. Position Overview We are building advanced sensing infrastructure designed to close critical intelligence gaps across the world’s oceans. Our technology transforms maritime vessels into a distributed sensing network using edge compute systems deployed in some of the most remote and challenging environments on Earth. These systems process large volumes of data directly at the edge to deliver real-time maritime domain awareness. We are seeking a Forward Deployed Infrastructure Engineer to take ownership of our distributed sensor fleet as soon as it is installed on vessels. While technicians handle physical installation, this role is responsible for the remote setup, orchestration, and continuous operation of complex edge systems deployed across a global fleet. You will build the infrastructure that allows newly installed, offline systems to automatically connect via satellite communications, configure onboard sensors, and integrate into a larger intelligence network. This role goes beyond traditional cloud infrastructure — you will debug remote hardware interfaces, optimize data flows across satellite networks, and build automation that keeps edge systems reliable even when connectivity, weather, and power conditions are unpredictable. Key Responsibilities Remote Provisioning & Orchestration Build and manage automated provisioning pipelines that remotely configure edge nodes immediately after physical installation Enable systems to activate satellite connectivity, configure sensors, and integrate into the broader network with minimal manual intervention Develop zero-touch or low-touch deployment workflows for distributed edge infrastructure Edge-to-Cloud Infrastructure Design and maintain the infrastructure that connects distributed maritime edge systems with cloud backends (AWS or GCP) Ensure reliable telemetry, monitoring, and system management across globally distributed nodes Satellite Network Optimization Architect networking solutions capable of handling variable satellite connectivity Implement technologies such as VPNs, SD-WAN, and tools like Tailscale or WireGuard to reliably transport telemetry, video streams, and RF data Over-the-Air System Management Develop secure and resilient deployment systems to push software updates, AI models, and configuration changes to remote nodes Ensure OTA updates can occur without disrupting system stability or rendering devices inoperable Remote Troubleshooting & System Reliability Serve as the escalation point for diagnosing issues affecting remote edge nodes Debug Linux systems, container failures, networking issues, and hardware/software integration problems from remote environments Build systems designed to remain operational despite unreliable connectivity or power disruptions Required Qualifications Linux & Systems Expertise Deep hands-on experience with Linux systems administration Strong proficiency with bash scripting and systemd Experience managing headless Linux systems in production environments Programming Strong experience using Python 3 for automation, tooling, and infrastructure management Networking Fundamentals Solid understanding of TCP/IP, routing, NAT traversal, and VPN technologies Experience working with constrained or unusual networking environments such as satellite networks or CGNAT Containerization Experience working with containerized environments such as Docker Resilience Engineering Mindset Ability to design infrastructure assuming unreliable networks, intermittent power, and unpredictable hardware behavior Preferred Qualifications Video & Streaming Systems Experience working with video pipelines or streaming technologies such as RTSP, WebRTC, GStreamer, or FFmpeg Edge Hardware & Sensors Experience working with edge devices such as Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson, or similar platforms Familiarity with sensors including GPS, IMU, radar, or telemetry systems Robotics Infrastructure Familiarity with Robot Operating System 2 (ROS2) and bi-directional data architectures RF & Signal Processing Experience with Software Defined Radios (SDR), GNU Radio, or RF telemetry processing Maritime Data Systems Familiarity with maritime protocols such as AIS (Automatic Identification System) or NMEA data Why Join Mission-driven work supporting maritime intelligence and global security Unique technical challenges involving edge computing, satellite networks, RF systems, and distributed sensing High-autonomy startup environment with the opportunity to shape core infrastructure Competitive salary, equity, and benefits