Forward Deployed Engineer
Noble Machines · Sunnyvale · $140,000–$195,000 (stated in the posting)
About Noble Machines
Noble Machines builds multipurpose robots to support human workers in the world's toughest jobs—turning dangerous work from a necessity into a choice. Our work demands reliability, robustness, and readiness for the unexpected—on time, every time. We're assembling a mission-driven team focused on delivering real impact in heavy industry, from construction and mining to energy. If you're driven to build rugged, reliable products that solve real-world problems, we'd love to talk.
About the Role
Noble Machines is looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer to be the critical link between our robotics platform and the customers putting it to work in the field—construction sites, mines, and energy facilities where the work is hardest and the stakes are highest. You'll deploy, integrate, and support our robots on-site, troubleshoot issues that span software, hardware, and networking in real time, and feed what you learn in the field directly back into product and engineering. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role for someone who is just as comfortable configuring a system as they are climbing onto equipment or debugging from a jobsite trailer.
What You'll Do
- Lead on-site deployment, installation, and integration of Noble Machines' robots at customer sites across construction, mining, and energy
- Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers during deployment, resolving hardware, software, autonomy, and networking issues in real time under field conditions
- Partner with engineering, autonomy, and hardware teams to translate field learnings, edge cases, and customer feedback into concrete product requirements and improvements
- Design and refine scalable deployment processes, tooling, and documentation as Noble Machines' customer base grows
- Own technical outcomes end-to-end—from pre-deployment planning and site readiness through go-live, training, and ongoing support
- Provide hands-on training to customer operators and site personnel on safe, effective robot operation
- Conduct root-cause analysis on field incidents and drive fixes across hardware, firmware, and software
- Travel regularly to customer sites, including remote and industrial environments, to support deployments and maintain uptime
What You'll Bring
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience
- 3+ years of experience solving problems at the intersection of hardware, software, and networking, ideally in unstructured or field environments
- Proficiency in Python and/or C++, with the ability to read, debug, and modify code across the stack
- Comfort working hands-on with physical systems—wiring, sensors, mechanical troubleshooting—in addition to software
- Strong ownership mentality and the ability to work independently on ambiguous, high-stakes problems with shifting requirements
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build trust with customers in high-pressure field environments
- Willingness to travel frequently to industrial and remote job sites, including construction sites, mines, and energy facilities
- Ability to perform physical tasks associated with fieldwork (e.g., lifting equipment, working outdoors in varied conditions, wearing required PPE)
Nice to Have
- Experience deploying robotics, autonomy, or hardware products in heavy industry (construction, mining, oil & gas, utilities)
- Familiarity with ROS/ROS2, autonomy stacks, or robot fleet management systems
- Linux systems administration, networking, and on-prem/edge deployment experience
- Background in defense, automotive, or industrial robotics
- Relevant safety certifications (OSHA 10/30, MSHA, or similar)
California Pay Transparency Statement
Pay Transparency & Compensation: In accordance with California's Pay Transparency Act (SB 1162), the expected base salary range for this position located in Sunnyvale, CA is $140,000 – $195,000 per year.
Actual compensation within this range will be determined based on several factors, including the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, technical skills, and specialized expertise. Base salary is just one component of Noble Machines' total rewards package, which may also include equity options, comprehensive healthcare benefits, retirement plan contributions, and performance-based incentives.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Noble Machines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
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