Forward Deployed Engineer

Mosaic.tech; Maryland; On-site; USD 143,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

You will collaborate with program managers, own technical execution, and influence product direction through field feedback and architecture discussions. Active clearance is a strong plus, U.S. citizenship is required.

Qualifications

• Strong software engineering fundamentals.
• Hands‑on experience with digital engineering toolchains: CAD, CFD, FEM, or related simulation and modeling environments.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments without a lot of hand‑holding.
• Ability to work on‑site with customers in a U.S. defense or aerospace context (clearance eligibility required; active clearance a strong plus).
• U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Onsite delivery: embed with customer teams to understand workflows, data environments, and constraints.
• Architect and build software integrations that connect CAD/CFD/FEM pipelines to Istari's platform.
• Develop, test, and maintain integrations and workflow solutions following modern software practices.
• Translate field experience into product insights and participate in architecture discussions and roadmap planning.

Skills

Software fundamentals

CAD/CFD/FEM toolchains

Ambiguity tolerance

On-site with customers

US citizenship

Tools

CAD

CFD

FEM

Job description

The Role

Istari's software doesn't just get handed off, it gets deployed into some of the most complex engineering environments in aerospace and defense. As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll be embedded directly inside our customer organizations, operating as part of their team while remaining tightly connected to Istari's product and engineering core.

This is not a support role. You are a builder. You'll write real code, architect integrations, and solve hard problems that emerge at the intersection of digital engineering workflows and mission-critical operations. The challenges you'll tackle require the instincts of a strong software engineer and the adaptability of someone who thrives in unstructured environments. Challenges like connecting CAD, CFD, FEM pipelines to Istari's platform; unlocking cross-discipline and cross-clearance collaboration; enabling organizations to actually use the tools in which they've invested.

You'll work alongside Istari Program Managers who are embedded in the same customer environments. They carry the program context and stakeholder relationships while you own the technical execution. Together, you operate as a unit capable of handling almost anything a customer throws at you. The best Forward Deployed Engineers make our product smarter, not just our customers happier.

Core Responsibilities:

Onsite Technical Delivery

• Embed with customer engineering teams to understand their workflows, data environments, and technical constraints
• Architect and build software solutions that integrate Istari's platform into existing digital engineering ecosystems (CAD, CFD, FEM, simulation pipelines, and related toolchains)
• Serve as the primary technical interface for the customer – not just answering questions, but proactively identifying where our software can drive more value

Software Development

• Develop, test, and maintain integrations and workflow solutions following modern software engineering practices
• Write clean, maintainable code that can be productized or reused across customer deployments
• Contribute to internal tooling and documentation that scales your knowledge across the team

Feedback Loop to Product

• Translate field experience into actionable product insights — you are one of Istari's clearest signals on what customers actually need
• Participate in internal engineering reviews, architecture discussions, and roadmap planning
• Help develop proposals and technical approaches for new customer opportunities

Required Qualifications:

Required

• Strong software engineering fundamentals — you write production-quality code and can defend your architectural decisions
• Hands‑on experience with digital engineering toolchains: CAD, CFD, FEM, or related simulation and modeling environments
• Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments without a lot of hand‑holding
• Ability to work on‑site with customers in a U.S. defense or aerospace context (clearance eligibility required; active clearance a strong plus)
• U.S. citizenship required

Preferred

• Experience integrating engineering software into larger data or workflow platforms
• Background in aerospace, defense, or other systems‑engineering‑heavy industries
• Exposure to Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) or digital thread / digital twin concepts
• Exposure to or direct experience with advanced CAD, CFD, or FEM tools

Compensation

143000 - 165000 USD a year

The anticipated compensation range for this position may vary based on experience, skills, qualifications, location, and business needs. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonuses, equity, and a comprehensive benefits package.