Solutions Engineer

Shift5 is building the data platform for onboard operational technology (OT). We deliver cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and compliance capabilities that enable defense and commercial fleets to operate with greater readiness, resilience, and mission assurance.

We are seeking a mission-aligned Solutions Engineer to join our team. This role connects customers with Engineering by turning mission needs into credible solutions, content, and demonstrations from first capture engagements and ensures a smooth transition to execution.

This role partners with the Shift5 Architect, Sales Account Executives (SAEs), Capture & Partnerships, Programs, Systems Engineering, Mission teams, and Engineering to bring engineering reality and expertise early in the customer capture pipeline.

We seek a systems thinker with hands-on ability, communication, and customer judgment across discovery, writing, demonstrations, and transition. The role complements, but does not replace, product development or Program execution.

• Initial discovery. Participate in early customer discussions to define mission problems, operational threads, desired data-driven outcomes, and key constraints.
• Preliminary solution framing. Develop system context and preliminary architecture; identify interfaces, data flows, and top-level capability needs; and begin documenting assumptions, constraints, government-furnished equipment (GFE), risks, and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) considerations. As opportunities mature, transition this context and supporting artifacts to the responsible Program and Engineering teams.
• Proposal Support. Create accurate proposal sections, capability statements, white papers, diagrams, customer follow-up materials, and preliminary estimates of technical scope and tasking.
• Technology Demonstrations. Design, configure, sustain, document, and troubleshoot reusable physical and virtual demonstration environments.
• Customer and event support. Deliver technical demonstrations and support customer meetings, workshops, site visits, partner engagements, trade shows, and booth coverage. Capture open technical questions and coordinate follow-up with the Account Executives.
• Technical validation and transition. For qualified opportunities, work with Engineering and Programs to validate feasibility, manage technical commitments, and enable a clean transition into execution. Remain engaged through the planning stage and consult thereafter as needed to preserve customer and mission context.
• Reusable solution assets. Own and maintain modular proposal content, demonstration environments, customer win vignettes, and briefing packages for rapid reuse across the Account Executive team.

• Within 90 days, establish trusted relationships and a practical operating rhythm across Growth, Programs, Systems Engineering, Mission teams, and Engineering.
• Own solution and demo work with visible status, limitations, risks, dependencies, and recovery paths.
• Produce credible, reusable technical content that improves customer discussions and reduces downstream rework.
• Give Program and Engineering owners clear context on customer technical direction and intent as handing off from proposal team 🡪 Execution team.

• 5+ years of experience in solutions, systems, integration, field, mission, or customer-facing engineering in a complex hardware/software environment.
• Ability to translate ambiguous mission needs into system context, preliminary architecture, interfaces, assumptions, risks, and actionable technical questions.
• Strong technical writing, visual communication, and presentation skills tailored to customers, operators, executives, evaluators, and engineers.
• Hands-on aptitude with integrated systems and disciplined troubleshooting; Linux, networking, APIs, embedded systems, operational technology, data flows, or platform-interface experience is preferred.
• Sound customer judgment: distinguish validated capability from assumptions, protect commitment boundaries, and escalate uncertainty early.
• Ability to manage dynamic priorities, collaborate without formal authority, travel for customer and event needs.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, a related field, or equivalent experience. Defense, aerospace, rail, mission operations, proposal, systems engineering
• Active Secret clearance.

Expected travel: 20–35%.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Base Salary: $135,000 - $170,000
• Bonus program and equity in a fast-growing startup
• Competitive salary and stock options in a fast-growing startup
• Employer-paid medical, dental and vision coverage
• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions
• Life Insurance
• Uncapped paid time off policy
• Flexible work & remote work policy
• Tax-deferred public transit benefits with Metro SmartBenefits (DC/MD/VA)

Shift5 is committed to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.