Technical Sales Engineer

Gulfport, MS | Full-Time | Annual Salary: $110,000

We are seeking an experienced, customer-focused Technical Sales Engineer for an organization specializing in advanced autonomous maritime and unmanned systems technology. This role connects Business Development, Engineering, and Mission Operations to support customer relationships, technical proposals, mission planning, opportunity capture, and successful program execution. The ideal candidate combines engineering expertise with excellent communication and commercial judgment.

• Serve as technical advisor throughout the business development lifecycle, from customer engagement through contract award.
• Support capture strategies, opportunity identification, proposal development, competitive positioning, and customer engagement.
• Analyze mission requirements and operational challenges, and recommend technically achievable solutions.
• Provide market intelligence and customer insights to support business growth.
• Participate in technical meetings, customer demonstrations, sea trials, and operational evaluations.
• Conduct site surveys, mission assessments, and operational analyses involving environmental and logistical requirements.
• Develop Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), mission strategies, and operational workflows.
• Communicate complex engineering concepts to technical and nontechnical audiences; identify capability gaps and alternatives.
• Lead preparation of technical proposals, white papers, capability statements, compliance matrices, and presentations.
• Identify technical risks, develop mitigation plans, and validate proposed capabilities.
• Collaborate with Contracts, Finance, Engineering, and Program Management on accurate proposals and contract clarifications.
• Coordinate with Product Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Mission Operations.
• Stay current on system capabilities and product developments; relay customer feedback to product teams.
• Support detailed technical transitions from awarded contracts to program execution.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent military or industry experience.
• At least 5 years of experience supporting unmanned systems, autonomous vehicles, maritime systems, robotics, or defense technologies.
• At least 3 years in technical sales, sales engineering, business development, field engineering, or a similar customer-facing technical role.
• Experience in proposals, technical presentations, customer demonstrations, or contract capture.
• Strong understanding of autonomous maritime systems, USVs, UUVs, or related technology.
• Excellent analytical, communication, presentation, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Experience supporting U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, DARPA, SOCOM, or other defense customers.
• Background in marine robotics, naval systems, defense capture management, and technical proposal development.
• Familiarity with GPS/navigation, RF and maritime communications, autonomous controls, power systems, battery management, sensors, payload integration, and electrical/mechanical schematics.
• Experience with nautical charts, mission planning, military maritime/unmanned operations, or business administration.

• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain the required government security clearance and U.S. passport.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, including maritime and remote field environments.
• Valid driver's license and vehicle insurance; TWIC credential or ability to obtain one.
• Successful drug screening, background investigation, and motor vehicle screening.

Annual salary: $110,000