Software Engineering Manager, Forward Deployed

Air; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Air seeks a dynamic Software Engineering Manager to lead Forward Deployed Engineers in delivering enterprise-grade software for defense and intelligence customers. You will guide the full software lifecycle, set standards, and translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.

Based in Pittsburgh or Arlington, you will supervise both front-end and back-end teams, drive Agile ceremonies, and foster innovation while ensuring timely deliveries and high quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS, Math, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of external or internal customer-facing, large-scale project management experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of software development management with OO languages (Java, C++, Python, C#, Ruby).
• 2+ years of people management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) across front-end and back-end.
• Oversee Agile ceremonies and set coding/testing standards.
• Translate business requirements into technical specs and deliver high-quality software.

Skills

Java

C++

Python

C#

Ruby

Microservice architecture

Agile

Leadership

Team management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or equivalent

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Redis

Aurora PostgreSQL

Apache Kafka

Linux

Job description

Company Description

Air is the leader in Enterprise Readiness. Our mission is to establish readiness as a real-time condition that is continuously achieved. Today, a dangerous Readiness Gap exists between what the front line needs and what is delivered. Our AI-native platform, Air Enterprise Readiness, aligns development, production, delivery, and sustainment into one coordinated execution system for government agencies and industrial suppliers. By revealing true capacity, exposing real constraints, coordinating resources, and executing at the speed of operational demands, the front line gets what it needs to succeed.

Company Description

Air is the leader in Enterprise Readiness. Our mission is to establish readiness as a real-time condition that is continuously achieved. Today, a dangerous Readiness Gap exists between what the front line needs and what is delivered. Our AI-native platform, Air Enterprise Readiness, aligns development, production, delivery, and sustainment into one coordinated execution system for government agencies and industrial suppliers. By revealing true capacity, exposing real constraints, coordinating resources, and executing at the speed of operational demands, the front line gets what it needs to succeed.

Job Description

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced Software Engineering Manager to join our talented team as Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) Manager at Air. Air is a leading technology company dedicated to supporting the defense and intelligence communities with cutting‑edge software solutions. As a FDE Manager, you will be pivotal in shaping and driving our software engineering processes and implementations to new heights.

As an FDE Manager at Air, you will lead a team of skilled Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs), both front‑end and back‑end specialists, through the entire software development lifecycle. You will oversee Agile ceremonies, set coding and testing standards, and ensure the quality of deliverables. Your leadership will be essential in translating business requirements into technical specifications, building scalable technology, and promoting innovation and efficiency within the team.

This role is a full‑time position located out of our office in Pittsburgh, PA, or Arlington, VA.

This role may require up to 10% travel

Scope of Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Go‑To‑Market teams to ensure appropriate engineering support and delivery for government customers
• Lead and mentor a team of FDEs, guiding them from ideation to implementation, and fostering a collaborative and productive work environment
• Organize and lead Agile ceremonies for the software engineering team, ensuring efficient project execution and alignment with business goals
• Establish coding and testing best practices and standards for engineers, driving excellence in software development
• Take charge of developing, testing, and deploying modern software applications and new features, ensuring they meet quality standards and deadlines
• Oversee the quality of engineers' deliverables, including coding, testing, and debugging, to maintain high standards of software quality
• Collaborate closely with Air's product team to translate business requirements into technical specifications, ensuring the successful delivery of software solutions
• Continuously seek innovation and process improvement opportunities, finding efficiencies in all assigned tasks to drive the team's success
• Work collaboratively with data engineers, data scientists, QA engineers, and DevOps engineers to enhance our platform's overall quality and performance

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of external or internal customer‑facing, complex, and large scale project management experience
• Minimum of 5 years of software development management with object‑oriented programming languages (e.g., Java, C++, Python, C#, or Ruby)
• 2+ years of people management
• Thorough understanding of microservice architecture
• Proven experience leading teams using an Agile development framework
• Strong analytical skills and unwavering attention to detail

Desired Skills

• Current possession of a U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain one with our sponsorship
• Experience in or exposure to the nuances of a startup or other entrepreneurial environment
• Experience in SQL and database design
• Strong knowledge of data structures, object‑oriented design, algorithms, exception handling, and troubleshooting
• Hands‑on experience with JavaScript frameworks like React or AngularJS
• Familiarity with Redis, Aurora PostgreSQL, and Apache Kafka
• Proficiency in profiling Java applications to identify bottlenecks
• Knowledge of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery concepts and build tools
• Experience with containers, cloud infrastructure, and DevOps patterns
• Familiarity with Linux commands and scripting

We firmly believe that past performance is the best indicator of future performance. If you thrive while building solutions to complex problems, are a self‑starter, and are passionate about making an impact in global security, we’re eager to hear from you.

Air is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans status or any other characteristic protected by law.