Software Engineer - Forward Deployed

About Smack

Smack is building domain-specific models for the sole purpose of delivering AI-enabled decision-making for modern warfare. Our team has decades of military leadership experience at every level. We understand the problem better than anyone, and we know exactly what our end users need to solve it.

About the Role

Smack is looking for Forward Deployed Software Engineers to bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI platforms and real-world operational missions. As a Forward Deployed Software Engineer, you’ll work directly with U.S. Government customers to deploy, integrate, and operationalize mission-critical software in secure environments. You’ll own technical delivery from architecture through deployment, solving complex engineering challenges while working alongside operators, mission planners, and product teams.

This is a backend-leaning software engineering role with full-stack responsibilities. You’ll spend as much time building software as you will integrating systems, troubleshooting customer environments, and rapidly adapting capabilities to meet mission needs.

This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy ambiguity, thrive in customer-facing environments, and want to see the software they build directly impact real-world operations.

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and maintain backend services using Python, Go, and modern cloud-native technologies
• Deploy, integrate, and troubleshoot software in secure customer environments
• Build APIs and distributed systems using GraphQL, REST, gRPC, and event-driven architectures
• Design and support Kubernetes-based deployments across AWS, Azure, and GCP
• Work directly with operators, mission teams, and customer stakeholders to rapidly solve operational problems
• Translate ambiguous customer requirements into reliable technical solutions
• Improve deployment automation, operational tooling, and engineering processes
• Collaborate closely with Applied Engineering to transform customer feedback into reusable platform capabilities

Required Skills

• Professional software engineering experience building backend systems
• Strong experience with Python or Go
• Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and cloud-native development.
• Experience designing or maintaining APIs (REST, GraphQL, gRPC)
• Experience debugging distributed systems and production issues.
• Comfortable working directly with customers in rapidly changing environments
• Ability to travel 25%-50% of the time
• Ability to obtain TS clearance

Nice to Have

• Active Top Secret (TS) or TS/SCI clearance (or held within the past two years)
• React or SolidJS experience
• Full Stack software engineering experience
• Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform or Pulumi)
• Experience deploying AI or machine learning systems
• Experience working in government, defense, or regulated environments
• Experience as an SRE, Platform Engineer, Solutions Engineer, or Forward Deployed Engineer

Smack's Mission & Values

Smack’s mission is to Deliver Decision Dominance to the Department of War, our allies, and partners.

• We’re here to serve: We work extremely hard every day in service of our mission and each other.
• We’re here to win: There are no participation trophies in war. We’re not satisfied with anything less than winning.
• We’re a culture of “And”: The Iron Triangle is for losers. Even the laws of physics can be bent with a little motivation.

Compensation:

Our full package includes base, equity, and performance incentives.