Forward Deployed Engineer
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Role Details
Company: US-based defense technology company
Location: Remote, United States
Employment Type: Full-time
Work Arrangement: Remote, with 20–30% travel
Salary: $180,000–$250,000 base
Equity: $150,000–$240,000 over four years
Experience: 4–6 years
Security Clearance: Active Top Secret clearance preferred; clearance-eligible candidates may be considered
Tech stack: Python, React, PostgreSQL, Redis, AWS S3, DoD RMF, Government IT Systems (IdAM, SIEM, CDS)
About the Company
An AI defense technology company developing mission-critical software for US government and national security organizations. Its technology supports intelligence and operational missions, with deployments across government and defense environments.
About the Role
The company is seeking Forward Deployed Engineers to own the technical delivery of software deployments in government and Department of Defense (DoD) environments. The role combines hands-on software engineering, customer engagement, and deployment ownership, translating mission requirements into production-ready solutions.
Responsibilities
Deploy and sustain production software directly inside government and DoD IT environments, owning delivery end-to-end from requirements through fielding
Serve as the primary technical point of contact for mission owners, operators, and intel analysts — translating ambiguous field requirements into shipped software
Scope and build low-cost pilots with government mission teams (pre-sales) and execute full technical deployments post-contract close (post-sales)
Contribute hands-on backend code (Python-preferred) across customer use cases, including large-scale text, multimedia, and geospatial data
Navigate government IT ecosystems (RMF, IdAM, SIEM, CDSs) and collaborate cross-functionally with product, design, and platform engineering teams
Requirements
Active U.S. TS clearance with SCI eligibility (candidates eligible and willing to obtain clearance may be considered if technically exceptional)
4+ years of full-stack engineering experience with strong backend fundamentals — Python preferred; assessed via backend coding and algorithms interview
Demonstrated experience deploying software inside government or DoD IT environments (RMF, IdAM, SIEM, CDSs)
Proven ability to own a project end-to-end in a field-facing or customer-embedded context with minimal oversight
U.S. citizen based anywhere in the U.S., willing to travel 20–30% to customer and classified operational sites
Benefits
Base salary of $180,000–$250,000.
Equity valued at $150,000–$240,000 over four years.
Remote-first working arrangement.
Unlimited paid time off.
Fully paid parental leave.
401(k) matching and lifestyle stipends.
Childcare and pet-care benefits.
Interview Process
Recruiter screening.
Hiring manager interview.
Technical assessment.
Virtual on-site interviews covering system design, cross-functional collaboration, and technical project review.
🌍 Remote from anywhere in the globe
Workplace, Culture & Diversity
Corporate culture is essential to allow the organization to differentiate itself. In terms of image on the one hand, it has strengths both internally and externally to consumers. It is indeed a source of cohesion and motivation of employees and it limits conflicts. With customers, it conveys a positive image and can develop a feeling of closeness to the company or even become a criterion of choice.
About Fractal Talent
We Are Fractal Talent, a global community of freelance and fractional recruiters. We provide recruiting expertise to our clients as a virtual extension of their teams, deployed on an embedded, project or per role basis, and matched to client need. Top tier quality, unrivalled flexibility.
If you're a recruiter, come join a community that acts as your outsourced sales function. We align your skills to our clients - with the aim to enrich quality recruiters and enable a far greater flexibility in how you manage your career.