Field Service Engineer

About this position About Urban Sky Urban Sky is a venture‑backed aerospace startup on a mission to pioneer routine, easy access to the stratosphere and the value locked within it. We design, build, operate, and sell stratospheric balloon systems. The data we collect supports a wide range of applications, from real‑time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping. Our technology is also employed by government customers including the Department of War (DoW), NASA, and others. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis. We aim to build the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and Texas and are seeking self‑starting, open‑minded, and hard‑working team members. Position Overview Urban Sky is seeking a Field Service Engineer to serve as the primary technical interface between our customers and our stratospheric balloon platform. In this highly cross‑functional, customer‑facing role you will learn our systems inside and out and guide customers from initial planning through payload integration and into the field. You will be a trusted technical partner for customers integrating a payload onto a stratospheric platform for the first time and support them at every step from kickoff through flight operations. This role is built for someone who thrives in the field and in front of customers. You will join our flight operations team for launches, demonstrations, and field exercises, often on short notice and away from home. Urban Sky is seeking someone who understands mechanical, electrical, and network integration, is a strong communicator, and a hands‑on problem‑solver. The candidate is motivated by owning the customer’s success across defense and commercial domains. Key Responsibilities Customer Planning & Integration Support : Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers integrating payloads onto Urban Sky’s balloon platforms; guide customers through the full integration journey, from initial planning and interface definition through readiness for flight; help customers prepare payloads for the stratospheric environment, coordinating with internal engineering teams on design, thermal, and environmental considerations; translate customer needs into clear, actionable integration plans and keep expectations aligned at every step; perform environmental testing with customers and their payloads to qualify them for flight. System Knowledge & Technical Support : Develop deep, hands‑on expertise in Urban Sky’s mHAB systems, bus platform, payload interfaces, and flight hardware (power, communications, and RF payloads); become a go‑to technical resource for customers and internal teams on how payloads integrate with and operate aboard our platforms; support integration with the HUSKY bus, including power distribution, communications connectivity, and data relay/backhaul; support customers requiring communications and RF solutions, coordinating with internal experts on antenna selection, integration, and optimization; represent Urban Sky and customer needs in meetings with stakeholders; provide HUSKY bus and mHAB platform training to enable customers to successfully integrate and operate with Urban Sky hardware. Hands‑On Integration & Troubleshooting : Lead and support payload integration checkout activities, including fit checks and functional verification; troubleshoot integration and hardware issues in the lab and in the field, escalating to internal engineering teams as needed; develop and maintain integration procedures, checklists, test plans, and technical documentation. Field & Flight Operations : Join the flight operations team in the field for launches, demonstrations, and field exercises; support customers on‑site during field deployments, serving as their primary technical resource before, during, and after flight; coordinate logistics for customer events and deployments (travel arrangements, timelines, event preparation, on‑site provisions); build and maintain deployable field kits so customers and Urban Sky team members can operate with everything they need; maintain the payload integration facility, keeping it clean, organized, and stocked with the tools and hardware customers need. Customer Success & Program Coordination : Act as a coordination lead for customer integration efforts, managing communication across customers, vendors, and internal teams; proactively identify customer needs before they arise and take initiative to address them; continuously identify opportunities to improve the customer experience throughout the planning, integration, and operations lifecycle; document procedures, integration guides, and lessons learned to build institutional knowledge and improve repeatability. Qualifications 3+ years of engineering or technical experience (field service, integration and test, systems integration, or test engineering). Strong aptitude and genuine eagerness to learn complex hardware systems quickly and become a trusted technical expert on our platform. Passion for supporting United States defense and providing critical value to the warfighter. Hands‑on troubleshooting skills and comfort working directly with hardware in the lab and in the field. Demonstrated experience supporting integration, test, or field operations programs. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable writing procedures, documentation, and interfacing directly with customers. Highly organized, with the ability to manage logistics and coordinate details across multiple concurrent programs. Customer‑first mindset, self‑driven and proactive, comfortable operating in a fast‑paced startup environment with ambiguous requirements. Willingness and ability to travel 30–60%, including on short‑notice field deployments. Nice‑to‑Haves / Preferred Skills Experience working with defense customers or in a defense‑adjacent environment. Former military experience directly interfacing with cutting‑edge technology in field and/or theater environments. Familiarity with RF or communications systems (tactical radios, SDR solutions). Familiarity with network architectures, Ethernet communications, and power systems in embedded or payload contexts. Experience with stratospheric, high‑altitude, or aerospace systems. Prior experience in a startup environment. Background in Systems Engineering and/or program or project management. Requirements Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Must be located near Denver, CO. Must be available for travel ranging from 30–60%, including short‑notice field deployments. Urban Sky is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. The pay range for this role is: 90,000 – 140,000 USD per year (Denver, CO HQ) #J-18808-Ljbffr