Job Description

Forward Deployed Software Engineer

• Title of Role: Forward Deployed Software Engineer
• Location: -, remote
• Company Stage of Funding: Venture-Backed — Hardware, Manufacturing, Defense, Robotics
• Office Type: Remote
• Salary: $175K–$220K

We're representing a dynamic aerospace and defense company that specializes in developing large-scale unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm systems for complex mission environments. The team operates at the intersection of hardware, robotics, and software, focusing on creating the autonomy and coordination infrastructure necessary for large-scale coordinated multi-vehicle flight. This company is well-resourced and tackling some of the most technically challenging problems in autonomous systems today.

What You Will Do

• Deploy directly alongside customers to integrate, configure, and debug UAV swarm software in real-world environments.
• Write and maintain production-grade software in C/C++, Python, and/or Go to support field operations and rapid iteration.
• Serve as the technical liaison between the core engineering team and end users, surfacing feedback and driving fixes upstream.
• Instrument and debug distributed swarm behavior across multiple UAV platforms simultaneously.
• Develop tooling and scripts to enhance deployment reliability and improve operator experience.
• Participate in field exercises, test events, and live demonstrations, which may require travel to customer sites.
• Document operational findings and contribute to post-mission engineering reviews.

Ideal Candidate Background

• 2–8 years of software engineering experience, particularly in customer-facing or field deployment contexts.
• Proficiency in at least two of the following: C/C++, Python, Go, with comfort across all three being a strong plus.
• Solid understanding of distributed systems and networking fundamentals.
• Demonstrated ability to debug complex, multi-system failures under time pressure in real-world environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, capable of translating technical findings for both engineers and non-technical operators.

Preferred

• Experience in defense, aerospace, or robotics hardware companies.
• Familiarity with UAV systems, flight controllers, or MAVLink/ROS/ROS2.
• Background in systems-level programming, networking protocols, or distributed systems.
• Hands-on experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) or software-in-the-loop (SITL) testing environments.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary for this role ranges from $175,000 to $220,000, depending on experience and scope. You will also have the opportunity for equity participation in a well-funded, high-growth aerospace and defense company, with fully remote work and travel to field sites as needed.