Forward Deployed Engineer

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