Forward Deployed Engineer – Federal/National Security

Red Cell Partners

Forward Deployed Engineer developing AI solutions for federal customers in national security. Engaging with mission teams to build production-ready systems and solve operational challenges.

Posted 7/20/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $180,000 - $240,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates strong software engineering fundamentals with expertise in backend engineering, distributed systems, and cloud infrastructure. Capable of translating customer needs into technical solutions while ensuring security and operational reliability in sensitive environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Backend EngineeringDistributed SystemsAPIsCloud InfrastructureTechnical Communication

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Software Engineering FundamentalsProduction-Quality SystemsData PipelinesApplied AI/ML SystemsDebuggingIntegrationDeployment WorkflowsObservabilityArchitectureTesting

Soft Skills

Strong JudgmentHigh OwnershipBias for ActionProblem-SolvingAdaptability

Tools & Technologies

AI-Enabled ApplicationsWorkflow AutomationCustomer SystemsIdentity ProvidersOn-Prem Infrastructure

Certifications & Qualifications

U.S. Security Secret Clearance

Industry Keywords

National-SecuritySensitive DataOperational ConstraintsMission WorkflowsCustomer Acceptance

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudDistributed Systems

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Work directly with federal and national-security customers to understand mission workflows, pain points, data environments, and operational constraints.
Build and deploy AI-enabled applications, agents, integrations, and workflow automation in secure customer environments.
Translate customer needs into technical requirements, implementation plans, and product feedback for the core engineering team.
Own delivery from prototype through production, including architecture, backend services, APIs, integrations, observability, testing, deployment, and customer acceptance.
Integrate with customer systems, data sources, identity providers, and cloud or on-prem infrastructure.
Partner with product, engineering, security, and customer teams to ensure solutions are secure, reliable, auditable, and operationally useful.
Debug issues in deployed environments and drive fast resolution across application, infrastructure, data, and integration layers.
Contribute reusable patterns, platform improvements, and documentation back to the broader engineering organization.
Operate with strong judgment in environments involving sensitive data, government stakeholders, and mission-critical workflows.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Strong software engineering fundamentals and ability to build production-quality systems.
Experience with backend engineering, distributed systems, APIs, data pipelines, cloud infrastructure, or applied AI/ML systems.
Ability to operate in ambiguous customer environments and turn unclear requirements into working software.
Strong technical communication skills with engineers, product teams, executives, and customer stakeholders.
Comfort working across the full stack when needed, including backend services, frontend interfaces, infrastructure, integrations, and deployment workflows.
High ownership, bias for action, and ability to drive outcomes without waiting for perfect requirements.
Strong debugging instincts and ability to reason across application code, data, infrastructure, networking, and customer systems.
Interest in national-security missions and willingness to work in secure or restricted environments.
U.S. Citizen eligible for U.S. Security Secret Clearance.

Benefits

Comp & perks

100% employer paid, comprehensive health care including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
Paid maternity and paternity for 14 weeks at employees' normal pay.
Unlimited PTO, with management approval.
Opportunities for professional development and continued learning.
Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives available.
Mental health benefits are available through Tara Mind.
Cost effective GLP-1 solutions available through Crux.