Forward Deployed Engineer

About the role

CONSEQUENTIAL WORK. DEDICATED PEOPLE.

Why This Role Exists

Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) create the bridge between core software capabilities and real-world mission outcomes. Sitting at the intersection of Software Engineering × Product × Customer Mission × Deployment, FDEs do not simply identify problems or route requirements; they personally close technical gaps.

As an FDE at Onebrief, you will deploy directly alongside military operators, command staffs, and partner systems in both unclassified and restricted/air-gapped environments via agile field sprints. You will write production-grade code, inspect REST/gRPC APIs, execute schema transformations, debug distributed systems, and turn recurring field workarounds into out-of-the-box core product capabilities.

What You'll Do

• Personally Own Mission Outcomes: Sit directly with operational users during field embeddings to translate complex mission friction into technically executable software solutions. Inspect schemas, write integration scripts, call REST APIs, analyze logs, and debug systems inside restricted customer environments.
• Bridge Field Execution & Product Strategy: Identify recurring field workarounds and collaborate directly with Product and Core Engineering to convert localized fixes into generalized, reusable platform capabilities, avoiding one-off custom engineering.
• Integrate Systems Across Core & Simulation: Connect Onebrief Core and Atom Engine with partner C2 systems, databases, and military data structures in complex network environments.
• Provide High-Signal Engineering Leverage: Protect core development teams by conducting rigorous failure-domain isolation in the field. Package escalations with reproduction steps, environmental states, logs, and root hypotheses.
• Communicate & Brief Stakeholders: Transition effortlessly between whiteboarding distributed software architecture with engineers and briefing senior military leaders or command staff on operational impact.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of progressive software engineering, solutions engineering, or field software engineering experience involving hands-on development.
• Proficiency in standard programming languages (such as Python, C++, C#, TypeScript, Go, or similar) and hands-on experience with REST/gRPC APIs, relational databases, data modeling, JSON/XML schemas, microservices, and cloud/edge infrastructure.
• Proven ability to parse application logs, diagnose network or authentication failures across multiple systems, and isolate root causes. (Prior experience in restricted/air-gapped environments is valuable, but specific air-gapped workflows can be learned on the job).
• Exceptional ability to explain technical trade-offs, lead interactive working sessions with users, and handle operational urgency with non-technical stakeholders.
• Active Secret clearance required.
• Willingness to travel 25-50% of the time

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as a Forward Deployed Engineer or Field Software Engineer at enterprise software or defense-tech companies (e.g., Palantir, Anduril, C3.ai, Scale AI).
• Direct experience building, deploying, or debugging software inside air-gapped DoD networks or classified environments.
• Experience with DoD software delivery, C2 systems, combatant command structures (COCOMs), operational planning workflows, or military data systems.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
• Hands-on experience leveraging modern AI-assisted development tools to accelerate integrations, scripting, and data transformations.

Notice to Third Party Recruitment Agencies

Please note that Onebrief does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of an executed Recruitment Services Agreement, there will be no obligation to any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without an agreement Onebrief explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, shall be deemed the property of Onebrief.