Job Title: Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Company Name: Swarm Aero

Job Details: Easy,Apply,Hiring,Remotely,in,USA,Remote,175K-220K,Annually,Mid,level

Job Url: https://builtin.com/job/forward-deployed-software-engineer/8029232

Job Description: Forward Deployed Software EngineerSwarm Aero is redefining air power, building the largest swarming UAV and most versatile swarming aircraft network in the world. The company is moving quickly to launch the first aircraft designed specifically for swarming as well as the Command & Control software to mobilize swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets and empower human operators to achieve superhuman results.The team has created and exited multiple startups, negotiated defense deals worth billions of dollars and designed and built 30+ novel aircraft, with aerospace experience from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic.About the Role:We are seeking a Forward Deployed Software Engineer to serve as the critical bridge between our engineering team and customer deployments. This is a software-first role focused on integration, deployment automation, and ensuring our Command and Control (C2) systems run reliably in diverse production environments. You'll spend most of your time writing code, debugging software issues, and building tooling—not flying drones or managing hardware.What You'll Do:Build deployment and integration tooling to streamline the installation and configuration of our C2 software across different customer environments and hardware configurationsDebug complex distributed systems issues in the field, analyzing logs, network traffic, and system performance to resolve software failures quicklyDevelop automated test frameworks and scripts to validate software functionality, performance, and integration with third-party systemsWrite code daily to solve customer-specific integration challenges, create monitoring solutions, and improve deployment reliabilityCollaborate remotely and on-site with customers to understand their technical requirements and translate them into software solutionsTravel to test sites (up to 75%) to ensure software deployments succeed, troubleshoot issues that arise, and gather requirements for engineering improvementsOperate drones during testing (Part 107 license required) to validate software behavior, not as a primary pilot but as an engineer testing codeThis Role Is For You If:You're a software engineer who wants to see your code run in high-stakes real-world environmentsYou thrive on solving gnarly integration and deployment challengesYou're comfortable being the technical expert in the field, independently debugging complex issuesYou enjoy customer interaction but prefer solving problems through code rather than PowerPointThis Role Is NOT:A pilot position or flight test engineer rolePrimarily hands-on hardware work (electronics, wiring, mechanical assembly)A traditional SRE/DevOps role sitting in an officeBasic Qualifications:Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field3+ years of professional software engineering experience (or equivalent demonstrated ability)Strong proficiency in at least one major programming language (Python, C/C++, Golang, or Java)Solid understanding of networking fundamentals: NAT, DNS/mDNS, UDP/TCP protocols, multicast, firewall configurationExperience with Linux system administration and shell scriptingProven debugging skills with complex software systems—you know how to read logs, use debuggers, and trace issues systematicallyExcellent communication skills for engaging with technical customers and internal teamsWillingness to travel up to 75% to customer sites and test locationsAbility to obtain and maintain necessary security clearancesPreferred Qualifications:Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and infrastructure-as-codeBackground in distributed systems, real-time systems, or robotics softwareFamiliarity with CI/CD pipelines and deployment automationExperience in customer-facing engineering roles or technical sales engineeringUnderstanding of embedded systems communication protocols (helpful but not required)Prior defense or aerospace software experienceCompensation Range: $175,000 - $220,000 + Equity What we OfferMeaningful equity stake in a high-growth defense technology companyCompetitive base salary commensurate with experienceComprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401kPTO and Paid Sick TimeMonthly Wellness StipendDaily catered lunch to officePaid Parental leaveFlexible work arrangement - remote/hybrid with regular collaboration in Oxnard & SeattleDirect impact opportunity - be a key leader in building a critical technology for national securityWorld-class team - work alongside exceptional engineers and operators solving hard problemsAs part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and trustworthy work environment, Swarm Aero conducts a thorough screening of prospective employees. Candidates will be subject to a comprehensive background verification process as a prerequisite for employment. To conform to U.S. Government controlled technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.