Principal Forward Deployed Engineer

Few&Far Group Ltd; City Of London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Sovereign AI in London seeks a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer to own deployments end to end in secure, air‑gapped environments. You’ll work with defence stakeholders to deliver cloud‑native apps and ensure accreditation.

The role requires hands‑on full‑stack skills (TypeScript, Node.js, React, PostgreSQL), strong DevOps with GCP, Terraform and Docker, and an active DV clearance.

Qualifications

• Strong 0-to-1 product experience in a principal engineer role.
• Extensive hands-on experience with GCP and infrastructure/DevOps.
• Excellent full-stack engineering skills (TypeScript, Node.js, React, PostgreSQL).
• Experience deploying and integrating complex software across varied environments.
• Security engineering, testing and technical assurance expertise.
• Active DV clearance is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical engagements with defence, engineering and security stakeholders.
• Own deployments end to end from requirements through to handover and accreditation.
• Adapt cloud-native apps to Kubernetes, OpenShift, on-prem, private cloud and air-gapped environments.
• Work across GCP, Terraform, Docker and CI/CD pipelines.
• Remain hands-on with full-stack development, APIs and production troubleshooting.
• Own technical documentation and testing strategies for security assurance.

Skills

TypeScript

Node.js

React

PostgreSQL

GCP

Tools

Terraform

Docker

OpenShift

Job description

Principal Forward Deployed Engineer | Sovereign AI | Outside IR35 | £650–850 per day

I’m working on an exciting contract opportunity for a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer to join a growing team delivering cutting‑edge AI solutions across defence and national security.

This is a hands‑on, technically demanding role for someone who enjoys taking products from 0 to 1, solving complex infrastructure challenges and getting software deployed into highly secure, restricted and air‑gapped environments.

£650–850 per day
3–6 month contract
Outside IR35
London | 1–2 days per week on-site
Active DV clearance essential

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading technical engagements with senior defence, engineering and security stakeholders.

• Owning deployments end to end, from requirements gathering through to integration, testing, accreditation and handover.

• Adapting cloud‑native applications to Kubernetes, OpenShift, on‑premise, private cloud and air‑gapped environments.

• Working across GCP, Terraform, Docker and CI/CD pipelines.

• Remaining hands‑on with full‑stack development, APIs, infrastructure and production troubleshooting.

• Taking ownership of technical documentation, testing strategies and security assurance.

What I’m looking for:

• A Principal Engineer or former technical founder with strong 0-to-1 product experience.

• Extensive hands‑on experience with GCP and infrastructure/DevOps.

• Strong full‑stack engineering skills across TypeScript, Node.js, React and PostgreSQL.

• Experience deploying and integrating complex software across varied infrastructure environments.

• A strong understanding of security engineering, testing and technical assurance.

• Active DV clearance is essential.

Experience delivering into MOD, defence or other highly restricted environments would be a huge plus. Production AI/LLM experience is also desirable.

This is a great opportunity for an engineer who wants genuine technical ownership and the chance to tackle some of the most challenging problems in sovereign AI.