Senior Software Engineer, FDE

Ditto is redefining how data moves at the edge. Our mission is to make it seamless for developers to build resilient, Real Time applications, regardless of network conditions. Whether you're in a stadium, airplane, or remote military base, Ditto's peer-to-peer sync engine ensures devices stay connected and data stays consistent, even without internet. With more than $145?million in funding and trusted by organizations such as Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, and the U.S. military, Ditto powers mission-critical experiences across aviation, retail, travel, hospitality, defense, and more. As a globally distributed, fast-growing startup, we're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the wide range of perspectives needed to solve the world's hardest connectivity problems. About The Position

As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you are the technical tip of the spear. FDEs are elite, versatile engineers who work shoulder-to-shoulder with our most critical users to solve complex challenges in real time. Your primary mission is to radically decrease the time-to-value of our software by integrating it directly into the user's operational environment. Because you see firsthand how our technology performs in the wild, you will also act as a crucial conduit, feeding technical insights and feature requirements back to our core product engineering team. This role requires a highly adaptable problem-solver who is comfortable moving fast, navigating ambiguity, and figuring things out quickly in high-stakes environments. Key Responsibilities

• Implement the Core Aggregation Node: Lead the on-site architecture, deployment, and configuration of our central data hub within a highly secure, distributed network environment.
• Master Edge-to-Core Synchronization: Architect and troubleshoot complex, peer-to-peer data synchronization across edge devices utilizing CRDTs to manage state in decentralized environments.
• Optimize Multi-Protocol Routing: Ensure reliable data flow from the tactical edge to the core by configuring and optimizing routing across heterogeneous and constrained network transports, including BLE, local Wi-Fi, and tactical radios.
• Solve Problems in Real-Time: Act as the first line of technical defense, rapidly diagnosing and resolving infrastructure, network, and software issues as they arise on the ground.
• Bridge the Gap: Translate the unique, edge-case operational realities you observe (eg, severe bandwidth constraints, disconnected nodes) into actionable technical requirements for the core product development team.

• Clearance Requirement: Must hold an active TS/SCI clearance. U.S. citizenship is strictly required for this role.
• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, forward-deployed engineering, or site reliability engineering (SRE), with hands-on experience deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting complex systems in live production environments.
• 2+ years of technical experience with distributed systems and cloud-native architectures, including container orchestration and event streaming or data messaging platforms.
• Prior experience with edge computing, state management, and complex data synchronization, understanding the challenges of eventual consistency and decentralized architectures.
• Highly adaptable, problem-solving mindset, able to navigate ambiguity, move fast, and balance immediate operational fixes with long-term technical fidelity.
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal, to translate complex edge-case technical realities into clear, actionable requirements for product engineers.

Nice to Haves

• Experience with secure data boundaries and mixed classification data, including data flows across Cross Domain Solutions to ensure secure, unidirectional synchronization between unclassified and classified networks.
• Prior experience navigating highly secure cloud infrastructures, understanding the strict compliance and architectural constraints of operating at high impact levels (IL5/IL6).
• Experience with advanced networking concepts and multi-protocol routing, troubleshooting data flows and optimizing payloads across constrained, non-traditional, or intermittent networks.
• Prior experience with CRDTs or local-first software architectures to manage complex data synchronization without a central server.
• Direct experience operating at the tactical edge, including hardware/software integration with military communication systems, tactical radios, or mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs).
• Familiarity with lightweight container orchestration and deploying workloads in highly resource-constrained environments (eg, K3s, RKE2, or Nomad).
• Previous experience working directly with DoD, IC, or federal customers, navigating highly secure, air-gapped, or classified network environments.

A background in systems programming (eg, Rust, Go, or C+) alongside standard scripting, allowing for deep optimization of routing protocols and edge services. The Benefits Of Building With Us

We offer competitive salaries and meaningful equity. Benefits vary by region to make sure you're covered in the ways that matter most. In the US, that includes health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, plus a 401(k) and flexible spending accounts. Regardless of where you live, everyone at Ditto can utilize flexible time off. While we work remotely, our Atlanta and San Francisco offices are open if you ever want a place to work or meet up with teammates. Apply Anyway

At Ditto, we know game-changers don't always come wrapped in a perfect resume. Years of experience? Every single bullet point checked? Meh. That's not what drives us.

What does matter?

• Grit.
• Curiosity.
• Adaptability.
• A genuine Spark for what we're building.