Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Swarm Aero is redefining air power by building the largest swarming UAV network in the world. The Forward Deployed Software Engineer will bridge the engineering team and customer deployments, focusing on integration, deployment automation, and ensuring reliable operation of Command and Control systems in diverse environments.

Responsibilities:

• Build deployment and integration tooling to streamline the installation and configuration of our C2 software across different customer environments and hardware configurations
• Debug complex distributed systems issues in the field, analyzing logs, network traffic, and system performance to resolve software failures quickly
• Develop automated test frameworks and scripts to validate software functionality, performance, and integration with third-party systems
• Write code daily to solve customer-specific integration challenges, create monitoring solutions, and improve deployment reliability
• Collaborate remotely and on-site with customers to understand their technical requirements and translate them into software solutions
• Travel to test sites (up to 75%) to ensure software deployments succeed, troubleshoot issues that arise, and gather requirements for engineering improvements
• Operate drones during testing (Part 107 license required) to validate software behavior, not as a primary pilot but as an engineer testing code

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field
• 3+ years of professional software engineering experience (or equivalent demonstrated ability)
• Strong proficiency in at least one major programming language (Python, C/C++, Golang, or Java)
• Solid understanding of networking fundamentals: NAT, DNS/mDNS, UDP/TCP protocols, multicast, firewall configuration
• Experience with Linux system administration and shell scripting
• Proven debugging skills with complex software systems—you know how to read logs, use debuggers, and trace issues systematically
• Excellent communication skills for engaging with technical customers and internal teams
• Willingness to travel up to 75% to customer sites and test locations
• Ability to obtain and maintain necessary security clearances
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and infrastructure-as-code
• Background in distributed systems, real-time systems, or robotics software
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and deployment automation
• Experience in customer-facing engineering roles or technical sales engineering
• Understanding of embedded systems communication protocols (helpful but not required)
• Prior defense or aerospace software experience