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Forward Deployment Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

You will partner closely with Account Executives and Forward Deployment Engineers to identify agent-related use cases, build the business case for Meko, and progress the technical and commercial ...

... deployment from discovery through production and direct accountability for whether what you ship ... We are hiring for engineering depth first. This is not a role for someone whose experience is ...

You will partner closely with Account Executives and Forward Deployment Engineers to identify agent-related use cases, build the business case for Meko, and progress the technical and commercial ...

Deployment Strategist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $220K/yr

Collaborating with Forward Deployment Engineers to scope, prototype, and deliver solutions powered by HappyRobot's platform. * Identifying and interpreting key datasets that drive customer decision ...

Forward Deployed Engineer Location: San Francisco Reports To: Head of Forward Deployed Engineering ... Our text-to-speech models are purpose-built for high-volume conversational deployments, engineered ...

Showing results 41-60

Forward Deployment Engineer information

See California salary details

$35K

$108.1K

$167.8K

How much do forward deployment engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for forward deployment engineer in California is $108,126.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,400.00 and $136,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a forward deployment engineer?

Forward Deployment Engineers (FDEs) are technical professionals who work directly with clients to implement, customize, and deploy software solutions. They act as a bridge between engineering teams and customers, ensuring that products are successfully integrated into the client's environment and tailored to meet their specific needs. FDEs typically handle a mix of software engineering, problem-solving, and client-facing responsibilities, often traveling to customer sites to provide on-the-ground support. Their role is essential for organizations that offer complex technical products requiring hands-on deployment and adaptation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a forward deployment engineer?

To thrive as a Forward Deployment Engineer, you need strong analytical and problem-solving skills, a solid foundation in computer science or engineering, and relevant experience or a degree in these fields. Familiarity with programming languages (such as Python or Java), cloud platforms, and deployment/configuration management tools is typically required, along with knowledge of client-facing software solutions. Outstanding communication, adaptability, and teamwork skills help you understand client needs and collaborate effectively across teams. These skills ensure successful implementation and integration of complex software solutions in diverse client environments.

How does a forward deployment engineer typically collaborate with clients and internal teams during a project?

Forward Deployment Engineers often serve as a bridge between clients and internal engineering or product teams. They work closely with clients to understand their unique requirements, configure solutions, and ensure successful deployments, frequently traveling to client sites. Internally, they collaborate with engineers, product managers, and support staff to relay client feedback, troubleshoot issues, and optimize system performance. This role requires excellent communication skills and adaptability, as each project may involve different stakeholders and technical challenges.

What is the difference between Forward Deployment Engineer vs Network Engineer?

AspectForward Deployment EngineerNetwork Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS, EE, or related; certifications like CCNA, Cisco, or cloud certificationsBachelor's in CS, EE, or related; certifications like CCNA, CompTIA Network+
Work EnvironmentOn-site deployments, fieldwork, client sites, and data centersOffice-based, network infrastructure setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting
Industry UsageTech, telecom, cloud providers, hardware vendorsIT, telecom, enterprise networks, service providers

While both roles require networking knowledge and certifications like CCNA, Forward Deployment Engineers focus on deploying and supporting hardware and systems directly at client sites, often involving fieldwork. Network Engineers primarily design, implement, and maintain network infrastructure within organizations. The roles overlap in certifications and industry usage but differ in work environment and deployment focus.

What do forward deployment engineers do?

Forward deployment engineers are responsible for deploying, maintaining, and troubleshooting hardware and software systems at client sites or in the field. They often work closely with customers to ensure systems operate effectively and may require skills in networking, scripting, and technical support. Their role involves on-site presence, rapid problem resolution, and ensuring operational readiness of deployed solutions.

What are popular job titles related to Forward Deployment Engineer jobs in California?

For Forward Deployment Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Forward Deployment Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Forward Deployment Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Forward Deployment Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Forward Deployment Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Forward Deployment Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,126 per year, or $52 per hour.

Forward Deployed Engineer, Mission Autonomy

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

$113K - $155K/yr

Other

Re-posted 6 days ago


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 75,541 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Anduril's Deployment Operations group is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer (internally known at Anduril as Technical Operations Engineer) to join our Mission Autonomy team. This is a Costa Mesa based role and not eligible for remote/hybrid work.
As a member of Anduril's Technical Operations team, you will be responsible for deploying and supporting Anduril's products all over the world. You will go forward with products early on in their lifecycle and work with engineering teams to iteratively improve them over time. The challenges you will encounter are innumerable and unpredictable, but you will be expected to take ownership of delivering the technical solution.
You must be both a teacher and a student, able to coach teammates on systems that you've gained intimate familiarity with and then transition into mastering the next system. You'll also guide users through product employment and troubleshooting, advise account managers on how to structure an operation to ensure technical success, and communicate specific recommendations for product refinement to engineering teams.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Support military defense projects by executing technical operations, conducting field maintenance, providing customer field support and training
  • Provide end-to-end support for our Mission Autonomy systems, including hardware setup and software configuration.
  • Tackle complex issues related to hardware, software, and networking in unstructured situations, driving them to resolution
  • Communicate field issue status to internal and customer teams, keeping them informed.
  • Support the development and implementation of comprehensive operational and logistical plans for various events
  • Provide end-to-end support for our Mission Autonomy systems, including hardware setup and software configuration.
  • Pre-configure systems and ensure seamless integration with customer infrastructure.
  • Troubleshoot issues in real-time, applying analytical thinking and hands-on problem-solving skills.
  • Manage both low-voltage and high-voltage electrical components, ensuring reliability and safety.
  • Work with deployed systems such as Kubernetes and Docker, ensuring smooth operation and updates.
  • Administer and maintain Linux systems across all of our products, serving as a subject matter expert in systems administration.
  • Incident response root-cause analyses (RCAs) for defense systems in the field
  • Conduct post-incident reviews and implement preventive measures
  • Maintain up-to-date documentation

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • 3+ years of experience of strong problem solving in unstructured environments at the interface of hardware, software, and networking.
  • Experience with Linux system administration.
  • Proficient with containerized environments (Kubernetes, Docker).
  • Proficient in working with hands and tools to assemble, repair, and maintain technical hardware in the field.
  • Ability to travel to remote regions of the world for up to two months at a time (up to 75% of the year).
  • Ability to relocate, if not already local to be onsite in Costa Mesa, CA.
  • Ability to meet health and medical requirements in advance of deployments in accordance with DFARS , DoDI 3020.41, and/or any additional requirements outlined by region or supporting force, as applicable.
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret/Secret clearance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • B.S. in computer science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related technical field
  • Working knowledge of IP networking fundamentals and Linux command line interfaces.
  • Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
  • Prior military or overseas contracting experience.

US Salary Range
$113,000-$155,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:
  • No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
  • Please always verify communications:
    • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
    • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to
  • Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
  • What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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