Forward Deployed Engineer

About the role

About Manifold

Strategy is the act of choosing what to do when you can’t know enough to be sure. Manifold builds software for the people making those decisions on behalf of the United States. The ones whose decisions shape the next decade, not the next quarter.

This work is still done largely by hand, by smart people with slide decks, spreadsheets, and instinct. We think it should be done with better tools. Not tools that make the decisions, but tools that sharpen the judgement of the people responsible for them. Cognitive enhancement, in the literal sense.

About the Role

Manifold is looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer to work directly with customers, understand their most important operational challenges, and build software that solves them.

You will own the process from problem discovery to implementation, embedding alongside users to understand their workflows, translate ambiguous requirements into technical solutions, and rapidly build and iterate on customer-facing applications. You will leverage Manifold's existing platform capabilities while identifying opportunities to extend the core product.

This is an early, high-ownership role. You will work closely with our engineering, product, and business development teams to deliver software that customers love while helping shape the future of Manifold's platform.

What You Will Do

Own customer workflows from discovery to delivery: Embed directly with customers to understand their operational challenges, translate ambiguous requirements into technical solutions, and independently build and iterate on software that addresses their needs.

Build customer-facing applications: Develop custom interfaces, workflows, and integrations using Manifold's existing platform capabilities, extending them where necessary to meet customer requirements.

Shape the core product: Collaborate with product and engineering to identify reusable capabilities, contribute improvements to the platform, and translate lessons from customer engagements into the product roadmap.

Support pre-sales technical engagements: Partner with business development on demonstrations, technical discovery, and solution scoping, ensuring proposed capabilities align with Manifold's broader product strategy.

Own technical execution: Independently scope, prioritize, and deliver customer-facing capabilities, balancing rapid iteration with engineering quality and long-term maintainability.

Required Qualifications

B.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience

2+ years of professional software engineering experience

Strong software engineering fundamentals, including testing, version control, debugging, and API development

Proficiency in Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, or similar programming languages

Experience building full-stack web applications using modern frontend and backend frameworks

Experience working with relational databases, REST APIs, and external data integrations

Ability to rapidly prototype, implement, and iterate on software applications with minimal oversight

Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to translate ambiguous requirements into technical solutions

Excellent communication skills, including the ability to work directly with customers and explain technical concepts to nontechnical stakeholders

Willingness to work directly alongside customers on a regular basis, including travel or on-site engagements as needed

Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance

U.S.-based U.S. citizen

Preferred Qualifications

Active TS/SCI security clearance

Experience as a Forward Deployed Engineer, Software Engineer, Solutions Engineer, or in a comparable customer-facing technical role

Experience independently delivering software solutions from initial discovery through deployment

Experience with modern frontend frameworks such as React and Next.js

Experience building backend services using Python, FastAPI, or similar frameworks

Experience with data-intensive applications, data visualization, knowledge graphs, or complex analytical workflows

Experience integrating APIs, databases, and external data sources into customer-facing applications

Familiarity with cloud infrastructure, Docker, and modern software deployment workflows

Experience collaborating with product and engineering teams to turn customer-specific solutions into reusable capabilities

Nice To Haves

Experience working at an early-stage startup or in a fast-paced engineering environment

Experience working directly with government, defense, or intelligence customers

Familiarity with national security, geopolitical analysis, intelligence workflows, or defense industrial systems

Experience building applications involving AI/ML, LLMs, or agentic workflows

Experience developing interactive dashboards, geospatial applications, or complex data visualizations

Experience supporting technical demonstrations, customer pilots, or pre-sales engagements

Experience contributing to a core software platform while delivering customer-specific implementations

Benefits

401(k) with matching

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents

Unlimited PTO

Health & Wellness stipend

Lunch stipend 3 times per week and dinner stipend after 8 p.m.

Company-wide break the last two weeks of the year

Supportive leave of absence including time off for military service, medical events, and parental leave