What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Mission Operator position at scoutai?
The future of defense will be decided by those who field intelligent machines at scale. At Scout, 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. It’s not just a leap in autonomy, it’s a force multiplier built for real-world conflict. This mission will ask everything of us: urgency, precision, and relentless work.
The Role
We’re hiring a Senior Mission Operator to lead a team that drives testing, data collection, and operational execution for our unmanned ground programs. In this role, you will spend the majority of your time in the field during the week, directly operating and supporting missions across varied environments. You will design and run mission-focused test plans, operate and maintain our autonomous platforms, and ensure we’re collecting the data needed to accelerate development. This is a hands-on, high-tempo position with direct impact on the performance and reliability of the most advanced robotic systems in defense. You’ll serve as the connective tissue between engineering, autonomy, and real-world mission readiness, turning cutting-edge technology into operational capability.
We’re a startup. You’ll be moving fast, context-switching daily, and helping define our operational processes and culture as we scale. This is a rare opportunity to come in early, own the test and data pipeline, and help architect the future of autonomous systems in defense.
Responsibilities
- Lead and mentor operations personnel
- Plan and execute UGV field tests in diverse, off-road environments
- Operate robotic platforms, off-road vehicles, and tow trailers safely
- Design and run data collection plans for autonomy development
- Collaborate with engineering to integrate features and solve issues
- Maintain readiness of platforms, vehicles, trailers, and equipment
- Develop and improve testing and deployment SOPs
- Analyze data and deliver actionable feedback
- Apply exceptional problem-solving skills in the field
Qualifications
- You thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with high ownership
- You have hands-on experience operating and maintaining vehicles, ground robots, or heavy equipment
- You’re comfortable driving off-road and troubleshooting mechanical or electrical issues in the field
- You’re an active person who prefers to be in the field than behind a desk
- You’re a structured thinker who plans meticulously but adapts quickly
- You communicate clearly, especially under stress or when priorities shift
- You’re motivated by the mission and ready to build the operational backbone of a scaling company
- Ability to travel 50 – 75%
- Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. Certain job duties may involve access to U.S. export-controlled information
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 base salary and bonus
- 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)