Mission Operator
Scout AI
Mission Operator
Scout AI
Develops autonomous warfare AI foundation model
The future of defense will be decided by those who field intelligent machines at scale. At Scout AI, we’re developing Fury, the first robotic foundation model for defense, to give U.S. forces overwhelming, adaptable, and autonomous power across every domain. Fury enables human operators to command fleets of robots through natural language, and empowers those machines to sense, decide, and act together as one. This mission will ask everything of us: urgency, precision, and relentless work.
The Role
We’re hiring Mission Operators to act as forward-deployed operators and field engineers for our unmanned ground vehicle programs. You’ll own system performance in real-world environments, executing field missions, supporting high-visibility customer demos, and ensuring platforms are mission-ready at all times. Operating at the intersection of engineering, operations, and customer engagement, you’ll run test events, operate autonomous systems, and troubleshoot issues across hardware and software in real time. You’ll work closely with engineers to validate performance, drive rapid iteration, and deliver actionable field feedback.
This is a hands-on, field-heavy role. You’ll deploy, operate, and recover systems in dynamic environments while maintaining high standards of safety, professionalism, and technical execution. You’ll also represent Scout in front of customers, clearly communicating system capabilities and performance under real-world conditions.
Responsibilities
Lead forward-deployed operation of autonomous and semi-autonomous ground systems in complex, real-world environments, supporting customer-facing demonstrations and field evaluations
Execute and adapt mission test plans in dynamic conditions, ensuring successful outcomes while maintaining strict safety and operational standards
Serve as the on-site technical authority during field operations, diagnosing and resolving mechanical, electrical, and software issues in real time
Interface directly with high-priority customers and stakeholders, briefing system capabilities, conducting live demonstrations, and representing product performance in the field
Coordinate end-to-end field logistics including system deployment, mobility, sustainment, and recovery across distributed test environments
Drive system readiness through hands-on maintenance, inspection, and rapid repair of vehicles, payloads, and supporting equipment
Capture and communicate actionable field insights to engineering and product teams, influencing system improvements and future development
Maintain operational awareness of system health, performance, and limitations to ensure mission success under austere conditions
Enforce and model disciplined safety practices for personnel, equipment, and autonomous system operations
Qualifications
Experience operating and sustaining vehicles, robotic systems, or complex field equipment in dynamic environments
Proficiency in off-road driving, trailering, and executing operations in austere or rugged conditions
Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills, with the ability to diagnose and resolve issues across hardware and software systems
High level of situational awareness with a disciplined approach to safety in field operations
Effective communicator under pressure, capable of coordinating with engineering teams and interfacing with customers in real time
Self-directed and adaptable, with the ability to operate independently in field-heavy, fast-paced environments
Willingness and enthusiasm to spend significant time outdoors supporting field missions and test operations
Mission-driven, with a strong interest in advancing autonomous systems for defense applications
Ability to travel 50–75% to support testing, deployments, and customer engagements
Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities
Passion about defense of the United States and its allies
May be expected to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance
Why Join Scout
Work on the world’s most important frontier, ensuring U.S. and allied dominance in the age of intelligent machines
Be a core part of a team building the first defense-specific robotic foundation model
Collaborate with some of the top engineers in autonomy, AI, and national security
See your work deployed on real systems
Help define the future of intelligent defense systems
Backed by Draper Associates, Booz Allen Ventures, and other top investors
Benefits
Competitive cash compensation
Meaningful equity
Premium medical, dental, and vision plans with $0 paycheck contribution
Competitive PTO and company holiday calendar
Catered lunch daily and fully stocked kitchen
EV charging
Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility)
Scout AI is a frontier AI lab in Sunnyvale that builds military AI systems for unmanned warfare. Its main product is Fury, a Vision-Language-Action foundation model that converts a commander's intent into coordinated actions by autonomous robots across air, land, sea, and space at the tactical edge. The system relies on AI reasoning to plan and orchestrate how different robots work together, rather than making hardware. It uses an accompanying C2-based orchestrator called Ox to manage and coordinate autonomous agents during missions. Scout AI has demonstrated end-to-end autonomous strike missions and has secured government contracts, seed funding, and a large Series A round to grow its foundational military AI and multi-agent collaboration. The company positions itself apart from competitors by focusing on the AI reasoning layer and cross-domain agent coordination rather than manufacturing hardware, aiming to scale reliable, multi-robot collaboration in defense scenarios.
Explore more opportunities at Scout AI