The Opportunity The Customer Success Engineer II – Field Integration & Exercise Support is a field-first technical role responsible for deploying, integrating, and sustaining NexTech Solutions’ products (COMPASS, Mantle, Tactical Mission Networks) for customer proof of concepts, customer test events and/or live operational exercises, while also supporting customer engagements, demonstrations, and product renewals. This position also supports Sales Directors with technical demos, proof-of-concepts, and customer adoption/renewals.
The ideal candidate thrives in high-tempo environments, and can also engage customers to ensure successful product adoption and expansion.
A critical component of this role is the ability to operate within and integrate into containerized, Kubernetes-based environments, which are foundational to modern command-and-control and ISR architectures (including platforms such as Anduril Lattice and Army Next Generation C2 ecosystems). The engineer must be capable of deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting tactical mission networks (TMN) and COMPASS within these environments to ensure reliable performance in complex, distributed systems.
Key Responsibilities (Principal Duties and Accountabilities *Essential Functions)
- Deploy, configure, and operate COMPASS and Mantle during live exercises, demonstrations, and operational test events
- Serve as the on-site technical lead during multi-week exercises, responsible for system performance, uptime, and integration success
- Integrate products into systems-of-systems environments, including ISR platforms, TAK ecosystems, and tactical networks
- Troubleshoot issues across networking, compute, containerized services, and data flows in dynamic or degraded (DDIL) environments
- Rapidly adapt to evolving mission requirements and architectures during live operational events
- Represent NexTech Solutions in front of operational users, integrators, and government stakeholders in field environments
Customer Success & Pre-Sales Support (~40%)
- Support Sales Directors (Compass and Mantle) in technical demonstrations, discovery sessions, and proof-of-concepts
- Assist in new customer engagements by configuring and showcasing real-world use cases aligned to mission needs
- Support renewals and expansion efforts by ensuring customers are successfully adopting and utilizing COMPASS and Mantle
- Deliver hands-on training for both technical and non-technical users
- Translate customer requirements into practical configurations and deployment approaches
Kubernetes & Containerized Environment Integration (Required Capability)
- Deploy and integrate COMPASS within Kubernetes-based environments using operator-level tools and workflows
- Configure and troubleshoot:
- Pods, services, and networking
- Containerized application deployments
- Data flows between COMPASS and other platform components
- Support integration into modern C2 and ISR ecosystems (e.g., Anduril Lattice, NGC2 architectures) where Kubernetes is the baseline
- Use tools such as kubectl, Helm, and container registries to deploy, validate, and troubleshoot systems
- Diagnose issues across:
- Application layer (COMPASS/Mantle services)
- Container orchestration layer (Kubernetes)
- Underlying infrastructure and network
Product Feedback & Continuous Improvement
- Capture insights from field exercises and customer engagements to inform Product and Engineering roadmaps
- Develop and refine technical playbooks, best practices, and documentation based on real-world deployments
- Identify repeatable patterns to improve scalability of deployments and customer onboarding
Travel: 60-75% (episodic, primarily CONUS-focused); Frequent travel to support week-to-month-long exercises and operational events. When not deployed, role transitions to remote/hybrid customer success and pre-sales support. Candidates must be comfortable with extended time on-site and high operational tempo
Requirements
- Fluency in English (written and spoken)
- Active Secret clearance (required on day one) with ability to obtain Top Secret clearance
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical field or equivalent practical experience in a customer-facing technical role
Required Skills, Experience & Abilities
- Minimum of 4 years of experience in a field engineering, systems integration, or customer-facing technical role
- Kubernetes – hands-on experience working within Kubernetes-based environments including:
- Deploying containerized applications
- Using tools such as Helm, Kubectl, etc
- Working understanding of core concepts (pods, services, networking, namespaces)
- Strong experience with:
- IP networking concepts including routing, switching, subnetting, VLAN configuration, VPN integration, and network troubleshooting
- Linux systems (deployment, administration, troubleshooting)
- Supporting enterprise SaaS platforms
- Demonstrated ability to:
- Operate in high-pressure, time-constrained environments
- Troubleshoot complex systems with incomplete or evolving information
- Experience translating technical capabilities into mission-relevant outcomes
- Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences
- Willingness to travel extensively and support extended on-site engagements
- Experience gathering customer feedback and influencing product roadmaps
- Fluency with IP networking concepts including routing, switching, subnetting, VLAN configuration, VPN integration, and network troubleshooting
- Proficiency deploying, administering and troubleshooting Linux systems (Ubuntu, Red Hat, or similar), including command-line operations, networking configuration, script development, service management, and log analysis
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior military or defense contractor field engineering experience (ISR/C2/Communications) is strongly preferred
- Experience integrating into Kubernetes-based mission platforms (e.g., Lattice, NGC2, or similar ecosystems)
- Experience in supporting US Military exercises, operational test events, and/or military technology field deployments
- Experience in supporting US military and/or Federal C2 systems, ISR workflows, and/or tactical communications networks
- Experience deploying, administering, and troubleshooting Tactical Awareness Kit (TAK) clients and servers
- Experience operating, configuring, or troubleshooting MANET (Mobile Ad Hoc Network) radios
- Experience with full-motion video (FMV) transmission over tactical communication networks in support of ISR missions
- Experience operating in DDIL environments
- Extensive experience and expertise in deploying, administering and troubleshooting Linux systems (Ubuntu, Red Hat, or similar), including command-line operations, networking configuration, script development, service management, and log analysis
- Experience designing, supporting, operating, and/or troubleshooting tactical mission networks (TMNs)
- Experience supporting regulated or complex enterprise environments
- Familiarity with customer success metrics (adoption, health scores, churn risk)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, especially with enterprise stakeholders
- Ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Comfortable leading customer meetings, workshops, and strategic business reviews
- Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, customer-first mindset
- Positive attitude toward safety and following protocols
- Problem-solving and troubleshooting mindset
Physical Demands & Work Environment The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Integration of HW and equipment in field environments (exercises, test ranges, government facilities)
- Ability to work extended hours during active exercises
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Ability to travel up to 75% of the time, which may include extended periods of standing, walking, or navigating airports and government facilities.
- Combination of:
- Field environments (exercises, test ranges, government facilities)
- Remote/hybrid customer engagement support
- Requires:
- Flexibility to work extended hours during active exercises
- Adaptability to changing technical and operational conditions
- Frequent interaction with clients, executives, and officials in both in-person and virtual settings.
- High travel to customer sites, government facilities, and industry events.
- Fast-paced, deadline-driven environment requiring adaptability and responsiveness.
