Senior Field Operations Manager

Company: Overland AI
Location: Ellensburg
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

About Overland AI Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Overland AI is transforming land operations for modern defense. The company leverages over a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning, as well as a field-test forward ethos, to deliver combined capabilities for unit commanders. Our OverDrive autonomy stack enables ground vehicles to navigate and operate off-road in any terrain without GPS or direct operator control. Our intuitive OverWatch C2 interface provides commanders with precise coordination capabilities essential for mission success. Overland AI has secured funding from prominent defense tech investors including 8VC and Point 72, and built trusted partnerships with DARPA, the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. Backed by eight-figure contracts across the Department of Defense, we are strengthening national security by iterating closely with end users engaged in tactical operations. Role Summary We are looking for a highly motivated Senior Field Operations Manager to join our team in order to plan and support frequent and aggressive field testing and demonstrations of high-speed autonomous off-road vehicles in remote and austere environments. Key Responsibilities Plan, resource, and support field tests and demonstrations both in Washington and in various locations across the country Attend and participate in frequent field tests: multiple times weekly in Washington (Ellensburg and Yakima areas), quarterly at sites elsewhere in the continental United States Build and adhere to budgets, timelines, and resourcing pipelines as relates to planned tests and demonstrations Operate offroad vehicles and heavy equipment as needed (training provided) to support field testing Work with government and military stakeholders to reserve and occupy land, schedule training, coordinate demonstrations, gather end-user feedback, and more What You’ll Need to Succeed Strong operations and/or project management background: BS and 6 years OR 10 years of project and/or operations management experience, with an emphasis on on-site or field projects or events. Team Player: You excel in a small-team atmosphere, taking ownership and working with your colleagues to solve problems across disciplines. Self-Starter: You are internally motivated and act in the best interest of your team, even without direct guidance or in the absence of existing processes and procedures. Strong inter-personal skills: You are able to build and maintain positive working relationships with stakeholders, clients, and government employees, often remotely, to facilitate successful execution of field events and logistics. Field-test forward: You enjoy getting your hands dirty and going off the beaten path to see the results of what you are working on. You have enthusiasm for spending long days in remote locations in bad weather to complete a field test. You are willing to travel long distances to support remote testing, occasionally on short notice. Familiarity with military training and operations: You show demonstrable knowledge of military operations and jargon and experience working closely with military units and contractors. Ability to obtain and maintain a DOD Security Clearance. Must be willing to travel 25% of the year. Must be able to travel OCONUS What Will Set You Apart Demonstrated experience coordinating work across multiple engineering disciplines, including software and hardware teams Experience running technical working sessions, capturing decisions, and driving action-item follow-through Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent threads Comfortable working close to the technical work without needing to own technical decisions Comfortable working in a manufacturing environment where personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to collaborate with manufacturing teams Git/GitHub (or similar) familiarity for: reviewing commits, branches, and logs; checking that images or builds are available in on-site or shared registries; following up with software owners when updates are needed Willingness to travel to and work at field test sites, including regular trips to our central Washington test sites Strong inter-personal and written communication skills, with the ability to distill technical information into structured plans and actionable updates Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD security clearance Location The preferred location for this position is Ellensburg or Yakima, WA. Compensation Annual Base Pay: $120,000 – $150,000 USD Benefits Equity compensation Best-in-class healthcare, dental, and vision plans Unlimited PTO 401(k) with company match Parental leave

Keywords: Overland AI, Auburn , Senior Field Operations Manager, IT / Software / Systems , Ellensburg, Washington