> AI agents: this is one page of Nextmove’s FDE site, in Markdown. Nextmove is a job board and free career service for forward deployed engineers (FDEs). Each posting is classified from its text, not its title: the kind of work, how much of it is production code, pre-sales weight, time at customer sites, travel, remote arrangement, level and posted base pay. The site also publishes the aggregates: median pay by level, metro, company and kind of work, and which companies started hiring FDEs each week. Every page under https://nextmove.md/fde is served this way; the index of pages is https://nextmove.md/llms.txt. # Senior Autonomy Engineer (Federal) Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/0e60bd92643875d3 Field AI posts a senior FDE role to build what the customer runs in Irvine, CA with no pay posted. Own deployment, integration, and field performance of wheeled autonomous robotic platforms across federal and commercial programs. Read from the employer’s posting on November 8, 2026. - [Field AI](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/field-ai) Posted Mar 19, 2026 by Field AI · open on Lever as of Nov 8, 2026 Pay not posted Irvine, CA On-site Full-time Own deployment, integration, and field performance of wheeled autonomous robotic platforms across federal and commercial programs. - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2F0e60bd92643875d3&placement=top) - [View posting at Field AI](https://jobs.lever.co/field-ai/6af48066-670b-4a98-af5c-001ecc675998/apply) Free. Upload your resume once, see why each FDE role fits, and get introduced only when you say so. ## At a glance ### Posted base pay Not posted Senior FDE postings, 1,864 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K. ### The work Builds what the customer runs Balance **Mostly building** Project stages 1. Pre-sales (not covered) 2. Proof of concept (not covered) 3. Implementation 4. Operations Travel **Required, amount not stated** - **Coding**: Writes production code - **Builds for**: External customers - **Level**: Senior - **Role**: Individual contributor ### What they ask for Experience - **2+ years** Industry or applied research experience with an MS degree in a related field - **4+ years** Relevant experience with a BS degree in a related field ### Do you meet what the posting states? The posting asks for 2+ years. How many do you have? The posting reads as a senior role. What level are you at now? The job is in Irvine, CA. Could you work there? Which of these have you used in production? Answer each one. Nothing is saved or sent. [What postings ask for, by background →](https://nextmove.md/fde/paths) ## Conditions - **Location**: Irvine, CA - **Work arrangement**: On-site - **Employment type**: Full-time - **Travel**: Travel required, amount not stated ## More like this [Anduril](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/anduril) ### [Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer, Strategic Defense](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/496735084229ffc9) Costa Mesa, CA · Washington, DC 6w ago $191,000–$254,000 [Swarm Aero](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/swarm-aero) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer - Embedded](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/a31dd0c0c1d39ad1) Oxnard, CA On-site 4w ago $180,000–$240,000 [Revel](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/revel) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/3cdc82ca00e6cbe2) Los Angeles, CA · San Francisco, CA On-site 1mo ago Pay not posted - [Other jobs at Field AI (3)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/field-ai) ## The job description from Field AI Posted by Field AI on Mar 19, 2026 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. ### About the Job At **FieldAI**, we build autonomous robotic systems that operate in demanding, real-world environments where tight integration between hardware and software is critical. We’re looking for a **Senior Autonomy Engineer** to support testing, deployment, and integration of wheeled robotic platforms across both federal and commercial programs As a **Senior Autonomy Engineer** at FieldAI, you’ll be at the forefront of bringing our autonomous systems to life in the real world, owning deployment, integration, and ongoing performance in the field. This role is equal parts engineering and problem-solving. You’ll work hands-on with both customers and our internal teams to ensure successful operations, rapidly incorporate field feedback to improve reliability and performance, and drive adoption so our systems become mission-critical from day one. If you thrive in fast-paced, high-impact environments and want to see your work directly enable the future of autonomy, this is the role where you’ll make it happen. ### What You Will Get To Do ### 1. Field Deployment & Operations - Lead the end-to-end deployment of autonomous systems in customer environments. - Ensure systems are configured, tested, and operational under real-world conditions. - Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues quickly to maintain uptime and mission success. ### 2. System Reliability & Performance - Gather and analyze field feedback to identify areas for improvement. - Work closely with product and engineering teams to drive enhancements into the core system. - Implement monitoring and diagnostic tools to ensure sustained reliability. ### 3. Customer Enablement & Adoption - Partner with customer teams to train and support operators in achieving operational readiness. - Translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable workflows. - Act as a trusted advisor to accelerate adoption and long-term value realization. ### 4. Cross-Functional Collaboration - Serve as the voice of the customer, bringing field insights back to engineering and product teams. - Collaborate across software, hardware, and AI research groups to deliver integrated solutions. - Contribute to building scalable deployment practices and playbooks for future rollouts. ### What You Have - PhD degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field or MS degree in a related field with 2+ years of industry or applied research experience, or BS degree in a related field with 4+ years of relevant experience. - Experience in field deployment of complex technical systems. - Proficiency in Python, C++, Git, ROS/ROS2. - Familiarity with Linux-based systems, containerization, and cloud infrastructure. - Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills across software, hardware, and networking layers. - Self-starter mindset with the ability to thrive in ambiguous and rapidly changing environments. ### The Extras That Set You Apart - Experience deploying, operating, or maintaining mission-critical systems in real-world environments. - Experience using Jira or Wrike or Confluence or other program management software tools. - Ability to work directly with customers in high-stakes, fast-paced settings, translating needs into technical solutions. - Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical users. - Willingness to travel and work on-site with customers as needed. 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. [View posting at Field AI](https://jobs.lever.co/field-ai/6af48066-670b-4a98-af5c-001ecc675998/apply) ## About Field AI Field Foundation Models — embodiment-agnostic robot brains for quadrupeds, humanoids, wheeled and tracked robots in construction, energy, mining, and logistics. 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