Software Engineer

Our client is an early-stage, venture-backed AI company in the defense space and they are looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer to work directly with customers deploying AI-powered software into real-world mission environments. This is a highly technical, customer-facing role where you'll bridge engineering and implementation—working alongside end users to understand operational challenges, configure solutions, build integrations, and ensure successful deployments. You'll have significant ownership and play a key role in shaping both the product and customer experience. What You'll Do Deploy and customize AI software for government and defense customers.Partner directly with users to understand workflows and translate requirements into technical solutions.Build integrations with customer systems, APIs, and data sources.Develop Python-based tools, automation, and deployment utilities.Troubleshoot production issues and optimize system performance.Work closely with product and engineering teams to influence roadmap based on customer feedback.Travel occasionally to customer sites as needed.What We're Looking For 3+ years of software engineering or solutions engineering experience.Strong Python development skills.Experience working with APIs, data pipelines, or backend services.Comfortable working directly with technical and non-technical customers.Ability to operate independently in fast-paced startup environments.Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) is a plus.Familiarity with AI/ML applications, LLMs, or data engineering is a plus.Previous experience supporting government, defense, or national security customers is preferred.Nice to Have Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or infrastructure automation.Knowledge of SQL, PostgreSQL, or other databases.Experience with REST APIs, FastAPI, or modern Python frameworks.Active U.S. Security Clearance or eligibility to obtain one.Why Join? Work on mission-critical AI technology with real-world impact.Early-stage startup with significant ownership and influence.Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits.Opportunity to work alongside experienced founders and engineers building cutting-edge AI solutions for national security.