Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) C-UAS

The role

You will lead the software integration of modular Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) sensors and effectors. You will deploy, harden, integrate, and operate modular C-UAS solutions in DoD environments.

What you will do

• Deploy and harden UDS Data Capability in the mission hero's environment
• Own integration with existing mission systems including sensor arrays and UAS interceptors
• Build pipelines that move data through classification boundaries
• Operate deployed systems including capacity, performance, and incident response
• Generate accreditation artifacts like STIG evidence and cATO documentation
• Represent the mission hero to product and engineering teams
• Train and transfer knowledge through runbooks and documentation
• Mentor junior Data Engineer FDEs

Required qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Experience working in tactical edge and interoperable mission environments
• Experience with TAK Server administration, ATAK/WinTAK, tactical communications, and disconnected or air-gapped systems
• Production experience with modern data platforms including lakehouse technologies, object storage, PostgreSQL, and analytical query engines
• Experience with streaming and data integration technologies including Kafka or equivalent
• Hands-on experience building, scheduling, monitoring, troubleshooting, and recovering production data pipelines
• Working knowledge of data governance, cataloging, access control, and auditability
• Strong SQL proficiency and experience designing data models and schemas
• Hands-on production Kubernetes experience
• Strong Linux, containerization, networking, TLS, and secrets-management fundamentals
• Experience with infrastructure as code and GitOps deployment practices

Nice to have

• Direct experience administering TAK Server and supporting ATAK/WinTAK integrations
• Experience with Link 16/TADL-J network operations and message-level analysis
• Familiarity with NIPR/SIPR environments, SATCOM, multi-band radios, and tactical communications interoperability
• Direct experience integrating C-UAS sensors, effectors, computer-vision-enabled interceptors, or other autonomous and unmanned systems
• Experience with Strimzi-managed Kafka on Kubernetes, Flink, Debezium, or similar
• Experience with PostgreSQL extensions such as pgvector and open-source catalog technologies
• Familiarity with the CNCF ecosystem and open-source infrastructure technologies
• Experience deploying or supporting software in DoD IL4/IL5 environments
• Experience with air-gapped software delivery, Zarf packaging, cross-domain data movement, or DDIL operating conditions
• Experience supporting operational DoD users through field integration, incident response, training, and knowledge transfer

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Premiums are 100% Company Paid
• Health Savings Account
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company Stock Options
• Home Office Budget
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Federal Holidays
• One week for Thanksgiving
• Two weeks for Christmas and New Year’s

Before you apply

• Requires U.S. Citizenship
• Requires Active TS/SCI clearance

About the company

Defense Unicorns delivers mission value by streamlining software delivery for customers. They create and deliver secure solutions for continuous software integration and delivery.