Careerscape is hiring a Forward Deployed Engineer on behalf of a venture-backed defense technology company that builds AI software for U.S. national security customers.
You'll be the technical owner of software deployments inside Department of Defense and government environments. That means scoping pilots with customers, delivering production deployments, and writing backend code (Python preferred) to make the software work in the field. You'll work directly with operators, intelligence analysts and program offices.
Compensation: $180,000 to $220,000 base salary, plus equity. Two hires.
Location: on-site Monday through Friday in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia area, with 20 to 30% travel to classified or operational customer sites. An active TS clearance with SCI eligibility is required; exceptional candidates who can be cleared may be considered.
Responsibilities
- Own software deployments inside DoD and government customer environments, from pilot to production
- Scope pilots and proofs of concept with customers and program offices
- Write backend code, mainly in Python, to integrate and extend the platform in the field
- Work directly with operators, intelligence analysts and program offices
- Navigate government IT requirements such as RMF, identity management, SIEM and cross-domain systems
- Bring field feedback back to the product and engineering teams
Requirements
- Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility (U.S. citizens who can be cleared may be considered)
- 4+ years of full-stack engineering experience with strong backend and algorithms skills; there is a coding interview
- Experience as a solutions or sales engineer at a defense tech company or cleared contractor who scoped pilots and shipped proofs of concept, or as a customer-facing engineer who deployed production software inside DoD or government IT
- Direct experience working with operators, intelligence analysts or program offices
- Able to work on-site in the Norfolk / Virginia Beach area and travel 20 to 30%
- Nice to have: DoD RMF and government IT experience (IdAM, SIEM, cross-domain)
Benefits
- $180,000 to $220,000 base salary
- Equity
- Mission-driven work with national security customers
- Real ownership of deployments from pilot to production