Forward Deployed Engineer Software

Front Door Defense; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 143,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Front Door Defense is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer based in El Segundo, California. This role involves embedding with customer engineering teams to understand their workflows while architecting and building integrations. Candidates should have strong software engineering skills and experience with digital engineering toolchains.

You will work directly with customers in defense or aerospace settings, utilizing your expertise to enhance product value and implement technical solutions.

Qualifications

• You write production-quality code and can defend architectural decisions.
• Hands-on experience with CAD, CFD, FEM, or related environments.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

Responsibilities

• Embed with customer engineering teams to understand workflows and data.
• Architect and build software solutions to integrate Istari's platform.
• Translate field experience into actionable product insights.

Skills

Strong software engineering fundamentals

Experience with digital engineering toolchains

Comfort operating in ambiguous environments

Ability to work on-site with customers

U.S. citizenship

Tools

CAD

CFD

FEM

Job description

Forward Deployed Engineer

Location: El Segundo, California, United States

Compensation: $143,000 - $165,000 USD / year

Job Tags: Software

About 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.

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

What You'll Bring

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

Why This Role?

The engineers who do this job well become some of the most technically well‑rounded people in the industry. You'll see how large, complex organizations actually work — not just the happy path. You'll build things that get used immediately. And because you're reporting into Istari's Customer Success org (not a sales or account team), your career trajectory stays technical. You'll also have the Istari team behind you: regular syncs, access to internal engineering resources, and a clear path to influence the product you're deploying.

Istari is a digital engineering software company building open, scalable infrastructure for engineering data. Our platform lets customers simply and securely integrate engineering models across disciplines, organizations, and security levels — whether they're designing prototypes, performing virtual testing, or training AI and autonomy for complex systems.

$143,000 - $165,000 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.