Forward Deployed Engineer (National Security)

TL;DR

Forward Deployed Engineer (National Security): Building and deploying AI-enabled applications and workflow automation for federal and national-security customers with an accent on secure system integration, mission-critical reliability, and rapid prototyping. Focus on translating complex operational requirements into production-ready software while navigating secure and regulated environments.

Location: Must be based in the USA (Washington, DC / Northern Virginia or near U.S. military concentration preferred). Role requires ~25% travel and potential onsite work in secure facilities.

Salary: $180,000–$240,000

Company

hirify.global is an incubation firm building and investing in rapidly scalable technology-led companies focused on healthcare, cyber, and national security.

What you will do

• Work directly with federal and national-security customers to understand mission workflows and operational constraints.
• Build and deploy AI-enabled applications, agents, and workflow automation in secure environments.
• Own the full delivery lifecycle from prototype through production, including architecture, APIs, and deployment.
• Integrate solutions with customer systems, data sources, and cloud or on-prem infrastructure.
• Debug complex issues across application, infrastructure, and data layers in deployed environments.
• Contribute reusable patterns and platform improvements back to the broader engineering organization.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required for security clearance eligibility.
• Strong software engineering fundamentals with experience in backend, distributed systems, or applied AI/ML.
• Ability to operate in ambiguous customer environments and translate unclear requirements into working software.
• Comfort working across the full stack, including backend services, frontend interfaces, and infrastructure.
• Strong technical communication skills for interacting with engineers, executives, and customer stakeholders.
• Interest in national-security missions and willingness to work in secure or restricted environments.

Nice to have

• Active Secret, Top Secret, or TS/SCI clearance.
• Experience with AI agents, LLM applications, and workflow orchestration.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes, Terraform, Docker, and secure deployment practices.
• Prior experience in federal, defense, or intelligence sectors.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive health care (medical, dental, vision) 100% employer-paid for you and your family.
• 14 weeks of paid maternity and paternity leave.
• Unlimited PTO with management approval.
• Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives.
• Mental health support and professional development opportunities.