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Startup Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Startup Founder

Somerville, MA · On-site

$254K - $266K/yr

They are seeking a Startup Founder to act as a mini-CEO, responsible for identifying and scaling ... Create and lead multi-disciplinary teams of talented engineers, operators, and designers. Hire and ...

We're a team of hands-on builders, engineers, and innovators reinventing how the world makes ... You have previously built a business or significant venture (technology startup experience is ideal ...

We're a team of hands-on builders, engineers, and innovators reinventing how the world makes ... You have previously built a business or significant venture (technology startup experience is ideal ...

Collaborate with the Founder/CEO, Engineering & Design team (ex-Google/Apple/Facebook/Microsoft) to ... Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment * Eagerness to learn, adapt, and ...

Collaborate with the Founder/CEO, Engineering & Design team (ex-Google/Apple/Facebook/Microsoft) to ... Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment * Eagerness to learn, adapt, and ...

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Showing results 1-20

Startup Engineer information

See Boston, MA salary details

$42.5K

$110.8K

$149.8K

How much do startup engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for startup engineer in Boston, MA is $110,843.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $91,500.00 and $126,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a startup engineer?

Startup engineers are versatile software or hardware engineers who work at early-stage companies to design, build, and scale new products or technologies. They often wear many hats, handling everything from coding and infrastructure to product design and sometimes even customer feedback. Startup engineers thrive in fast-paced environments where adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving are essential. Their work is crucial in turning innovative ideas into viable products quickly, often with limited resources and tight deadlines.

What are some typical challenges a startup engineer faces when working in an early-stage company?

Startup Engineers often encounter rapidly changing priorities and ambiguous requirements as the company pivots to find product-market fit. They may need to balance building scalable solutions with the need for quick prototyping, sometimes working with limited resources or incomplete documentation. Collaboration across disciplines—such as product, design, and business teams—is frequent, so adaptability and strong communication skills are essential. These challenges can be demanding but also provide valuable opportunities to learn and grow quickly within a dynamic environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a startup engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Startup Engineer, you need strong programming abilities, a solid understanding of software architecture, and versatility across tech stacks, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with cloud platforms (like AWS or GCP), version control systems (such as Git), and rapid prototyping tools is commonly required. Adaptability, problem-solving, and effective communication are standout soft skills for this fast-paced environment. These skills and qualities are crucial for efficiently building scalable products and adapting to the evolving needs and constraints of early-stage startups.

What cities near Boston, MA are hiring for Startup Engineer jobs?

Cities near Boston, MA with the most Startup Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Startup Engineer job openings in Boston, MA as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,843 per year, or $53.3 per hour.

Forward Deployed Engineer at a Defense-Tech Startup

Mesodyne Inc

Somerville, MA • On-site

$80 - $100/hr

Other

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

Forward Deployed Engineer at a Defense-Tech Startup

Mesodyne is looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to bridge the gap between lab testing and real-world military field operations. In this role, you will be our "boots on the ground" technical lead, supporting live field trials, military exercises, and pilot customer demonstrations. This position requires up to 25% travel, often to rugged, austere environments. When things go wrong in the field you must be a master of fast, high-impact field fix—troubleshooting the system, swapping modules, and using terminal commands to adjust parameters and keep the LightCell running.

You will represent Mesodyne to military personnel and elite operators, requiring clear communication, sound judgment, and technical credibility.

Key Responsibilities
  • Field Demonstration Execution: Lead on-site deployment, fueling, startup, and testing of LightCell prototypes at military exercises, defense evaluation events, and trade shows.
  • Rapid Field Troubleshooting: Act as the ultimate tactical troubleshooter. Diagnose electrical, mechanical, and firmware issues quickly under pressure and get systems back online. Communicate problems clearly to Engineering and collaborate on fixes.
  • Technical Communication: Translate complex tech jargon from engineering into clear, direct, common-sense language for the customer. Build strong rapport with military end-users and gather crucial operational insights. Provide a daily debrief to HQ and a full trip debrief upon return.
  • Matrix into Engineering: When you are not traveling or preparing for travel, you will be embedded with our Engineering Team, helping to assemble new units, build test fixtures, and document hardware performance in the lab.
Qualifications & Skills
  • Education: B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
  • Hands-On Troubleshooting: A proven ability to build and debug physical prototypes is required (strong extracurricular projects and student project teams count!). Practical skills working with intricate mechanical assemblies are essential.
  • Broad Engineering Skills: Solid mechanical hand-tools proficiency, comfort with basic electrical wiring/multimeters, and experience using command-line tools for debugging.
  • Endurance, Grit, and Outdoor Character: You genuinely love traveling, the outdoors, and are comfortable operating in muddy, hot, or freezing austere training environments. We are looking for exceptional operational endurance and a relentless work ethic—someone who takes pride in working out tough problems and genuinely thrives under demanding conditions.
  • Base Access & Credentialing: This position requires regular travel to U.S. military installations and defense facilities. Candidates must meet the baseline security, background checking, and credentialing requirements necessary to secure unescorted access to these government facilities.
Location

This position is based at our facility in Somerville, MA. 25% travel is required.

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Mesodyne logo

About Mesodyne

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Nanotechnology research and development

Company size

1 - 10 Employees

Headquarters location

Somerville, MA, US

Year founded

2018