Forward Deployed Engineer

We are looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer with 3–5 years of experience to embed directly with commercial and defense customers, solving complex real-world problems at the intersection of hardware, software, and mission-critical operations. This is a rare opportunity to join a fast-moving, early-stage defense tech company where you'll be the face of Rivet on the front line — writing production-quality code in the field, shaping the product roadmap from the point of need, and working on technology that genuinely matters.

What will you be doing?

Deploy onsite with customers (industrial, defense, and government) to develop, debug, and ship high-impact software solutions in the field — often in air-gapped, austere, or disconnected environments

Cycle between customer sites and the office: gather real-world feedback, bring it back to the core engineering team, and iterate fast to improve the product

Diagnose and solve a wide range of technical problems on the fly — from networking issues to code bugs — using whatever tool is right for the job (Linux, Android, C, Rust, Python, etc.)

Act as Rivet's ambassador on site: represent the company credibly with customer stakeholders, translate field learnings into product priorities, and identify new use cases

Collaborate with Rivet's core engineering team (including PhDs and domain specialists) to escalate, communicate, and resolve complex technical challenges discovered in the field

Key Requirements

U.S. citizen with an active Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain one — non-negotiable due to contract obligations

3–5 years of hands-on software engineering experience with a strong foundation in Linux, networking fundamentals, and low-level programming (C, Rust, or similar); comfort across multiple languages and abstraction levels

Demonstrated experience deploying and debugging integrated technology solutions onsite with customers — not just building in an office

Background in environments where software meets the physical world: embedded systems, defense tech, robotics, aerospace, IoT, factory automation, or similar "bits and atoms" domains

Scrappy, curious, and self-directed — thrives in ambiguity, willing to travel 35–70%, and genuinely excited to work in austere field environments (not just an air-conditioned office)