Forward Deployed Software Engineer, Tactical Edge

About the Role

This is a customer-facing engineering role embedded on small, high-autonomy teams that deploy and operate data integration and analytics software in tactical edge environments, including air-gapped, on-premises, and resource-constrained hardware. You will own the full lifecycle of software deployment onto compact on-prem form factors, solving hard problems around resource constraints, dynamic allocation, and remote system management as the hardware moves around the world.

What You'll Do

• Work directly with customers to deploy containerized software platforms in tactical edge environments, including air-gapped and on-prem configurations.

• Provide operational support including debugging network and systems issues, managing system configuration, load balancing, container orchestration, and conducting upgrades.

• Own end-to-end execution of high-stakes projects with minimal supervision.

• Communicate technical architecture clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Travel to customer sites approximately 25% of the time.

• Maintain an active US security clearance.

What We're Looking For

• 2 to 5 years of software engineering experience, ideally in defense, government, or systems integration contexts.

• Active US Secret or Top Secret security clearance (required).

• Hands-on experience physically integrating software into hardware systems in military vehicles, ships, labs, or similar on-prem or edge environments.

• Proven experience deploying and managing containerized applications with Kubernetes (OpenShift, Rancher, or similar).

• Strong Linux systems administration, networking, and on-prem infrastructure skills.

• Proficiency in one or more of: Python, Java, Bash, Go, or JavaScript.

• Background with monitoring tools such as Prometheus and Grafana.

• CS degree or equivalent strong computer science fundamentals.

• Prior experience at a defense contractor, systems integrator, or defense technology company is a strong plus.

• Exposure to forward-deployed software platforms or enterprise data analytics tools is a plus.

• No visa sponsorship available; must be authorized to work in the United States.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary range: $135,000 to $200,000 USD annually. No visa sponsorship is available for this role.

Location

This role is open to fully remote candidates based in the United States. The primary anchor location is Palo Alto, California, with additional presence in New York, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.