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# Senior Forward Deployment Engineer, Strategic Customer Engagements U.S.

- **Company:** Planet Labs
- **Location:** Washington, DC, United States (Remote available)
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $160,600.0 - $200,800.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), JavaScript (Programming Language), Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Web Services, C Sharp (Programming Language), Cloud Computing, Code Review, Data Integration, Iterative and Incremental Development, Python (Programming Language), OpenLayers, Software Construction, Software Engineering, Software Systems, Strategies of Testing, Backend, Build Management, Information Technology, Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL), Front End Software Development, Software Coding, Software Version Control, Golang
- **Published:** October 27, 2026
- **Apply:** https://diversityjobs.com/career/18736688/Senior-Forward-Deployment-Engineer-Strategic-Customer-Engagements-U-S-D-C-Washington

## About the Role

* 6+ years of relevant work experience in software engineering or an equivalent technical role.
 * Bachelor's degree in a Computer Science or other relevant field.
 * Experience with geospatial software development and concepts (e.g., Rasterio, Fiona, Shapely, OpenLayers, GDAL).
 * AWS or GCP experience.
 * Proficiency in Python.
 * Knowledge of software engineering best practices, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, and testing methodologies.
 * Ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to diverse internal and external stakeholders.
 * Experience with fast, iterative development cycles and an ability to adapt to shifting requirements.
 * Willingness to travel 30-50% to customer sites within the region.
 * Must have a current active security clearance (TS or TS/TSI).

What Makes You Stand Out:

 * Experience with JavaScript, Java, Go or C#.
 * Experience working with defense and security customer domains.

## Description

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to help develop transformative solutions for our most strategic accounts, starting with our Global Defense and Security customers. In this role, you will work directly with key partners, acting as a senior technical contributor and hands-on builder within a collaborative engineering team. Your mission will be to tackle complex, mission-critical customer challenges by building high-impact software solutions.

You will have a high degree of autonomy to design and build what is needed, turning ambiguous requirements into functional and reliable software. Your work will directly contribute to delivering on critical customer commitments and will help inform future product development. This role is ideal for an individual contributor who thrives in dynamic environments and enjoys taking ownership of complex technical problems from design to delivery.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our Arlington, VA office 3 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

 * Spearhead the full development lifecycle from discovery and decomposition to designing, building, and deploying bespoke solutions for customer challenges.
 * Develop robust, full-stack software, including front-end, back-end, data integration, cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS), and CI/CD pipelines.
 * Collaborate directly with customers to understand operational challenges and translate them into technical requirements.
 * Analyze customer solutions to identify reusable patterns that inform broader platform development.
 * Leverage the latest AI tooling and an AI-first mindset to drive rapid iteration, deliver value quickly, and adapt to evolving requirements with a bias for action.
 * Mentor team members, conducts code reviews, and helps foster a collaborative engineering culture.
 * Execute critical commitments on time to directly support key customer relationships and business goals.