{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"d46bd5c91feaba574ee7abfc","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/d46bd5c91feaba574ee7abfc","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/d46bd5c91feaba574ee7abfc","title":"Forward Deployed Engineer","description":"Forward Deployed Engineer\nIndustry: Defense robotics / autonomous ground systems\nLocation: Maryland HQ preferred. Also open to Ketchum (ID), Palo Alto (CA), Orlando (FL), West Virginia, and Boston\nCompensation: $135,000–$165,000 base + equity\nTravel: ~75% (expected to decrease as the team scales)\nAbout the Company\nA venture-backed robotics company building autonomous ground vehicle systems for defense customers. Their platforms combine an autonomy stack, operator-control software, and integrated mission payloads.\nPrograms are rapidly transitioning from experimental phases into real-world deployment, placing this role at the center of that shift.\nThe Role\nForward Deployed Engineers are the company’s tip of the spear in the field. You will act as a technical operator, ensuring systems function in real-world conditions that often go beyond documented scenarios.\nThis role is closer to a Palantir-style FDE than a traditional field service representative. You are not just executing checklists—you are a generalist engineer working hands-on in dynamic environments.\nYou will operate at the intersection of engineering and end users, supporting customers who are eager to adopt new capabilities as soon as they are ready.\nWhat You’ll Do\nDeploy integrated robotic ground systems to test sites, training centers, and forward operating locations\nTroubleshoot across the full stack: hardware, autonomy software, networking, communications, and operator-control systems\nPull logs via command line, reproduce issues, and provide clear diagnostics to engineering teams\nProactively identify and resolve issues before they impact the customer\nDocument solutions to prevent recurrence\nTrain and support customer operators on new capabilities\nBuild strong relationships with field units and earn their trust\nWhat We’re Looking For\nStrong technical foundation across both hardware and software systems\nComfortable with hands-on vehicle maintenance and repair\nExperience working with CLI, log analysis, networking, and communications troubleshooting\nAbility to debug software deployments without needing to write production code\nWillingness to travel extensively (~75%), including extended stays in remote or challenging environments\nComfort working in physically demanding conditions (“Type 2 fun”)\nStrong mission orientation and commitment to end users\nBias toward action and problem-solving in ambiguous environments\nNice to Have\nExperience as a Forward Deployed Engineer at a software-forward defense or dual-use company\nExperience within government innovation organizations (e.g., DEVCOM, DIU, service-level innovation offices)\nBackground as a Field Service Representative (FSR) with added software/networking expertise\nMilitary experience (valued but not required)\nDeployment Locations\nStateside: Fort Drum, Fort Bragg, Fort Polk, NTC / Fort Irwin, 29 Palms, Camp Lejeune, White Sands, Aberdeen, Grayling (MI), and others\nInternational: Eastern Europe, supporting Ukrainian forces with system upgrades, repairs, and maintenance (behind the front lines)\nLocation & Work Setup\nMaryland HQ is the preferred location and serves as the engineering hub. Other offices include Ketchum (ID), Palo Alto (CA), Orlando (FL), and West Virginia, with a Boston office opening soon.\nStrong remote candidates will be considered.\nCompensation & Benefits\nBase salary: $135,000–$165,000\nEquity participation for all employees\nPerformance bonuses primarily awarded as equity\nHiring Process\nRecruiter screen\n30–45 minute phone interview with the hiring team\nOn-site interview at Maryland HQ (or virtual panel if needed)\nFinal roundtable decision\nTypical process includes one to two phone screens before the final stage.\nWhat Success Looks Like (6 Months)\nDeep understanding of the system, mission, and user\nTrusted by customers in the field\nProactively identifying and resolving issues\nDelivering clear feedback to engineering that improves future releases","company":"Sitreps","rawCompany":"sitreps","city":"Washington","state":"DC","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-07-19T14:20:13.642Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2199.08","title":"Robotics Engineers","slug":"robotics-engineers"},{"code":"17-2199.00","title":"Engineers, All Other","slug":"engineers-all-other"},{"code":"15-1299.08","title":"Computer Systems Engineers/Architects","slug":"computer-systems-engineers-architects"}],"industries":[{"code":"541330","title":"Engineering Services","slug":"engineering-services"},{"code":"541512","title":"Computer Systems Design Services","slug":"computer-systems-design-services"},{"code":"541715","title":"Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)","slug":"research-and-development-in-the-physical-engineering-and-life-sciences-except-nanotechnology-and-biotechnology"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Forward Deployed Engineer","description":"Forward Deployed Engineer\nIndustry: Defense robotics / autonomous ground systems\nLocation: Maryland HQ preferred. Also open to Ketchum (ID), Palo Alto (CA), Orlando (FL), West Virginia, and Boston\nCompensation: $135,000–$165,000 base + equity\nTravel: ~75% (expected to decrease as the team scales)\nAbout the Company\nA venture-backed robotics company building autonomous ground vehicle systems for defense customers. Their platforms combine an autonomy stack, operator-control software, and integrated mission payloads.\nPrograms are rapidly transitioning from experimental phases into real-world deployment, placing this role at the center of that shift.\nThe Role\nForward Deployed Engineers are the company’s tip of the spear in the field. You will act as a technical operator, ensuring systems function in real-world conditions that often go beyond documented scenarios.\nThis role is closer to a Palantir-style FDE than a traditional field service representative. You are not just executing checklists—you are a generalist engineer working hands-on in dynamic environments.\nYou will operate at the intersection of engineering and end users, supporting customers who are eager to adopt new capabilities as soon as they are ready.\nWhat You’ll Do\nDeploy integrated robotic ground systems to test sites, training centers, and forward operating locations\nTroubleshoot across the full stack: hardware, autonomy software, networking, communications, and operator-control systems\nPull logs via command line, reproduce issues, and provide clear diagnostics to engineering teams\nProactively identify and resolve issues before they impact the customer\nDocument solutions to prevent recurrence\nTrain and support customer operators on new capabilities\nBuild strong relationships with field units and earn their trust\nWhat We’re Looking For\nStrong technical foundation across both hardware and software systems\nComfortable with hands-on vehicle maintenance and repair\nExperience working with CLI, log analysis, networking, and communications troubleshooting\nAbility to debug software deployments without needing to write production code\nWillingness to travel extensively (~75%), including extended stays in remote or challenging environments\nComfort working in physically demanding conditions (“Type 2 fun”)\nStrong mission orientation and commitment to end users\nBias toward action and problem-solving in ambiguous environments\nNice to Have\nExperience as a Forward Deployed Engineer at a software-forward defense or dual-use company\nExperience within government innovation organizations (e.g., DEVCOM, DIU, service-level innovation offices)\nBackground as a Field Service Representative (FSR) with added software/networking expertise\nMilitary experience (valued but not required)\nDeployment Locations\nStateside: Fort Drum, Fort Bragg, Fort Polk, NTC / Fort Irwin, 29 Palms, Camp Lejeune, White Sands, Aberdeen, Grayling (MI), and others\nInternational: Eastern Europe, supporting Ukrainian forces with system upgrades, repairs, and maintenance (behind the front lines)\nLocation & Work Setup\nMaryland HQ is the preferred location and serves as the engineering hub. Other offices include Ketchum (ID), Palo Alto (CA), Orlando (FL), and West Virginia, with a Boston office opening soon.\nStrong remote candidates will be considered.\nCompensation & Benefits\nBase salary: $135,000–$165,000\nEquity participation for all employees\nPerformance bonuses primarily awarded as equity\nHiring Process\nRecruiter screen\n30–45 minute phone interview with the hiring team\nOn-site interview at Maryland HQ (or virtual panel if needed)\nFinal roundtable decision\nTypical process includes one to two phone screens before the final stage.\nWhat Success Looks Like (6 Months)\nDeep understanding of the system, mission, and user\nTrusted by customers in the field\nProactively identifying and resolving issues\nDelivering clear feedback to engineering that improves future releases","datePosted":"2026-07-19T14:20:13.642Z","dateModified":"2026-07-19T14:20:13.642Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Sitreps","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Washington","addressRegion":"DC","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"d46bd5c91feaba574ee7abfc"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/d46bd5c91feaba574ee7abfc"}}