Forward Deployed Engineer – Defense Technology

Location: Rosslyn, VA
Employment Type: Full-time
Work Arrangement: On-site; up to 40% travel required
Salary: $190K–$220K, based on experience and qualifications
Equity: Competitive equity
Experience: 4+ years
Security Clearance: Active U.S. Secret security clearance required
Visa Sponsorship: Not available

About This Role

We are seeking Forward Deployed Software Engineers to join an expanding team in the DC area. In this role, you'll take on a diverse set of challenges spanning full-stack development, networking, systems integration, and user-focused problem solving—always balancing speed, scalability, and sound engineering judgment.

You'll collaborate closely with Product Engineering and Design while working hand-in-hand with a customer-facing team to deliver end-to-end solutions that empower military logisticians. Engineers thrive on ownership and accountability, approaching every project with a practical, execution-oriented mindset.

You'll work in small teams with minimal supervision and own end-to-end execution of high-stakes projects for military customers. The right candidate will consistently deliver reliable, timely, and high-quality outcomes while keeping the mission at the forefront of decision-making.

What You'll Do

• Work side-by-side with end users and stakeholders to understand their toughest challenges, then design and deliver software solutions that directly address those needs.

• Take full ownership of features from concept to deployment, including prototyping, integrating with existing systems, and ensuring performance in demanding real-world environments.

• Collaborate across engineering, product, design, and operations teams to build scalable systems, prioritize work, and drive complex projects to completion.

• Continuously monitor and improve system reliability and performance by instrumenting code, analyzing metrics, diagnosing issues, and iterating on fixes.

• Balance short-term urgency with long-term maintainability—making thoughtful trade-offs that keep solutions practical, effective, and mission-focused.

• Travel to deploy, field-test, and support software systems, gathering feedback directly from users to ensure success in operational settings. Travel may be up to 40%.

What We're Looking For

• 4+ years of experience as a full-stack software engineer in a customer-facing position, such as a Forward Deployed Engineer.

• Active U.S. Secret security clearance.

• Experience deploying software on-site with a customer or in the field.

• Strong coding ability, including the ability to succeed in LeetCode-style technical assessments.

• Full-stack proficiency in Go, TypeScript/JavaScript, C++, or similar technologies.

• Experience working at a startup or on a small team with significant ownership.

• Willingness to work on-site in Rosslyn, VA.

• Willingness to travel up to 40% of the time.

Nice to Have

• Experience developing software in defense, aerospace, or another complex operational environment.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field.

About the Company

This is a fast-growing defense technology company building mission-critical software for military logistics and sustainment. Founded in 2024, the company combines Silicon Valley software expertise with deep operational experience working in and with the Department of Defense to solve critical logistics challenges faced by the U.S. military and its allies.

The company's software provides military commanders with a modern, real-time view of logistics and sustainment operations, including inventory, distribution, operational planning, and resupply. Its technology is currently deployed across the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

The company is not a traditional defense contractor. It is a small, fast-moving team that stays close to users by embedding directly with military units during exercises and rotations and continuously shipping improvements based on feedback from the field.

The organization has approximately 65 employees, has grown rapidly, and has raised approximately $46M in funding, including a recent Series A. The culture is deeply collaborative, with engineers, product managers, and designers working fluidly across functions. The company values agency, speed, ownership, and staying close to its mission.

Tech Stack

• JavaScript

• TypeScript

• Go

• C

• C++