Senior Hardware Field Test Engineer

ABOUT onX

We’re a team of builders, adventurers, and risk takers using technology to help people confidently explore the outdoors. Driven by our mission to awaken the adventurer inside everyone, we build products that optimize every outdoor experience and inspire confidence to get out and go further.

We’re a high-growth tech company. The pace is fast, the work takes grit, and ambiguity is part of the job. As the world changes around us, we adapt - continuously evolving how we build, prioritize, and deliver.

Our business moves quickly, and there’s real opportunity to shape what we build next. Each of our verticals - Hunt, Offroad, Backcountry, and Fish - is at a different stage of maturity, which means the challenges you encounter and the impact you have will vary depending on where you sit and what the business needs most.

We operate with an experimentation mindset, continually iterating and improving how we solve problems. We expect our people to use the latest tooling, including AI, thoughtfully and responsibly, pairing human judgment with technology to increase quality, speed, and impact.

Our impact comes to life through the products we build, in the stories of our customers, and in our growing commitment to land stewardship and recreational access.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

onX is seeking a Senior Hardware Field Test Engineer (based in Montana) to help bring an exciting new connected product experience to market, designed to complement the onX Hunt app and create new possibilities for our customers.

As we move through product development, field testing, and launch preparation, you'll independently lead the field-testing program, ensuring the product performs reliably in real-world conditions and that issues are identified, understood, and addressed before reaching customers. You'll bring structure to an evolving testing environment, connecting insights from field testers, customer support, engineering, and manufacturing to improve product quality and inform launch readiness.

You'll have the opportunity to shape how onX approaches hardware field testing, establishing practical processes, navigating technical challenges, and working across teams to drive resolution. As our product experiences evolve, you'll help strengthen our testing practices and build a foundation for future efforts.

This role reports to the Director of Connected Devices.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Essential Job Duties & Functions

• Independently lead the end-to-end field-testing program, including test planning, execution, unit allocation, and coordination across internal testers and ambassadors.

• Develop and manage field-testing processes that provide clear visibility into product performance, emerging issues, and risks to launch readiness.

• Establish and manage defect triage and tracking practices, evaluating issues based on severity, customer impact, and potential launch risk.

• Analyze field-testing results, customer support data, and defect trends to identify patterns, investigate issues, and recommend corrective actions.

• Partner closely with hardware engineering, software teams, and manufacturing partners to investigate defects, align on priorities, and drive issues toward resolution.

• Coordinate environmental, durability, and real-world performance testing to evaluate product reliability across expected use conditions.

• Develop field-testing quality criteria and provide data-informed assessments and recommendations to support launch-readiness decisions.

• Proactively identify testing gaps, technical risks, and cross-functional dependencies, navigating challenges independently and escalating significant trade-offs when appropriate.

• Continuously improve testing workflows, feedback loops, and reporting practices to strengthen efficiency, visibility, and accountability.

• Demonstrate onX's Company Values by building trust across teams, fostering shared accountability, and proactively addressing challenges.

• Look for opportunities to embed AI as a repeatable co-pilot in daily workflows, integrating experimentation into real work and refining its use with sound judgment and validation

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Must be based in or willing to relocate to the Bozeman or Missoula, MT area. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Assurance, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 7+ years of experience testing integrated hardware and software products, preferably in consumer electronics or connected devices.

• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex hardware testing programs, establish effective processes, and deliver results in evolving or ambiguous environments.

• Strong experience investigating, prioritizing, and managing defects, with the ability to anticipate technical risks, evaluate trade-offs, and recommend effective solutions.

• Experience partnering across engineering, manufacturing, and other teams to align priorities, navigate challenges, and drive technical issues toward resolution.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to synthesize field data, identify patterns, evaluate risks, and make sound decisions with incomplete information.

• Ability to proactively identify opportunities to improve testing practices, manage competing priorities, and strengthen product quality.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical findings, quality risks, and recommendations to diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to thoughtfully explore and apply AI tools to improve field-testing workflows, support problem-solving, and enhance day-to-day effectiveness while exercising sound judgment and validating outputs.

• A shared passion for and ability to demonstrate onX's Company Values.

• Permanent US work authorization is a condition of employment with onX.

• Ability to travel periodically between onX's Montana offices or to other locations as business needs require.

ADDED BONUSES

Though not required, we would be thrilled to consider candidates with any of the following:

• Experience testing outdoor or rugged consumer hardware.

• Experience working directly with manufacturing partners to investigate and resolve product quality issues.

• Experience with hands-on field testing and developing quality gates to inform product launch readiness.

• Knowledge of cellular networking and connectivity failure testing.

• Experience with firmware integration testing.

• Experience with test automation for integrated hardware and software products.

THE ONX EXPERIENCE

onX is a distributed company with more than 400 employees across the country. We come together regularly to work in person and stay connected through regional basecamps and a culture that balances individual ownership with deep collaboration.

While we move quickly, we’re not a scrappy start-up. We operate with clear goals, structure, and frameworks that guide how we prioritize and execute. Priorities matter. While they may shift, data shapes how we evolve as our business, products, and the world around us change.

Clear priorities and structure don’t limit ownership - they make it possible. You’ll have the autonomy to define your work and make meaningful decisions within clear strategic boundaries. You’ll partner closely with others to solve complex problems and build solutions that scale across teams and platforms. Along the way, you’ll be supported with feedback, tools, and opportunities to grow your craft as you take on new challenges.

WHERE YOU CAN WORK

onX is a distributed company with employees across the U.S. For this role, we're seeking candidates who are based in or willing to relocate to the Bozeman or Missoula, MT areas , where onX has physical offices. This position requires proximity to one of these offices to support hands-on testing and collaboration with local teams.

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