Senior Forward Deployed Engineer - Implementation Focus

Second Front Systems is looking for an operationally experienced, technically rigorous Senior Forward Deployed Engineer - Implementation to strengthen our implementation function across federal deployments. Operating at forward-deployed environments where Game Warden onboarding determines mission readiness, you will be responsible for owning technical success of complex customer implementations, establishing implementation standards, and translating field friction into platform improvements. You will lead highest-stakes onboarding engagements, mentor Implementation Engineers on configuration and troubleshooting, and partner with Product and Platform Engineering to harden deployment processes, ensuring that customers achieve secure, accredited Game Warden deployments on schedule and Implementation Engineers operate from documented, tested procedures. We need someone capable of managing multi-week onboarding engagements with minimal support, where integration failures create operational risk; diagnosing configuration and infrastructure issues across classified and unclassified networks, and documenting root causes as permanent fixes; and building consensus between field realities and product roadmap decisions, translating warfighter constraints into engineering requirements. As a key partner to product, Platform Engineering, and Federal Sales leadership, you will reduce post-deployment support costs, compress onboarding timelines, and accelerate customer accreditation by embedding lessons learned into the platform, serving as the technical authority who ensures Game Warden deployments succeed in contested environments. Note: Candidates must reside in one of our approved hiring hubs: • DC/Maryland/Virginia • Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC • Denver/Colorado Springs, CO • Dallas/Fort Worth, TX What You'll Do • Own the technical strategy and execution for 2F's most complex and high-visibility customer deployment implementations, including first-of-kind application onboardings and multi-agency or multi-enclave rollouts. • Serve as the senior-most subject matter expert on Second Front products across Implementation, building the internal enablement materials and technical playbooks the rest of the team relies on. • Own and continuously improve onboarding and customer support processes across the Implementation function, identifying systemic friction and driving it out with better tooling, documentation, or automation rather than one-off fixes. • Lead onboarding of customer applications into GameWarden for security scanning, including the technically hardest cases such as legacy architectures, unusual dependency chains, or non-standard compliance postures. • Partner directly with Product and Platform Engineering leadership, feeding implementation-pattern insights into the platform roadmap. • Architect and configure complex cloud-based customer deployments across AWS, GCP, and Azure, making design decisions other engineers on the team will follow as precedent. • Resolve escalations from other Implementation Engineers, unblocking stalled deployments and coaching them through novel technical problems. • Represent 2F technically in front of senior customer stakeholders and program managers, and collaborate cross-functionally with Sales and Platform Engineering throughout the What You Bring • 8–10+ years of experience in software engineering, DevOps, cloud engineering, or implementation/deployment engineering, with demonstrated ownership of complex, production-grade deployments (not just execution of defined tasks). • Advanced Linux installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance expertise, including hands-on hardening and support of on-premises hardware at scale. • Deep DevSecOps tooling and practices knowledge, with experience building or maturing implementation/onboarding processes rather than only following them. • Strong communication under pressure, with a track record of leading technical conversations directly with senior customer stakeholders during high-stakes deployments. • Demonstrated mentorship and technical leadership of other engineers, including acting as an escalation point on difficult problems. • A track record of diagnosing and resolving integration friction between customer legacy systems and modern software stacks, with judgment about when and, more importantly, how to push back on customer architecture versus when to engineer around constraints. • DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance eligibility required; active or interim clearance strongly preferred. • U.S. citizenship is required for this role. • Ability to travel up to 25%. Preferred The base salary for this position will fall between $160,000 and $190,000. Your ultimate compensation will be determined by professional background, technical proficiency, seniority, and regional cost factors. Furthermore, this opportunity includes potential eligibility for equity awards and discretionary bonuses, rounding out a comprehensive total rewards offering. SUCCESS AT 2F LOOKS LIKE: • Viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth • Having a bias toward action and tangible, measurable results • Striving to be both compassionate and direct with your feedback • Being team-oriented and inclusive with your action PERKS & BENEFITS: This role is a full time position. As a public benefit corporation, we’re a team of purpose-driven trailblazers transforming the future of U.S. national security. We hire the best to do their best and, as such, we are committed to providing the perks and benefits you need to be successful—both in- and outside the workplace. We offer you: • Competitive Salary • 100% Healthcare, vision and dental coverage • 401(k) + 3% company contribution • Additional benefit perks (One Medical membership, mental health resources and family planning assistance) • Equity incentive plan • Tech + office supplies stipend • Annual professional development stipend • Flexible paid time off + federal holidays off • Parental leave • Work virtually, near one of our hub locations • Referral Bonus Visit our careers page https://www.secondfront.com/company/careers to learn more. WHO WE ARE: At Second Front Systems (2F), we empower defense and national security professionals to stay ahead in the ongoing race to leverage emerging technologies effectively and securely. Founded by three former U.S. Marines with firsthand experience of the dangers outdated technology poses in combat, our team is dedicated to fast-tracking government access to disruptive, commercially-proven technology for U.S. national security missions. Our Game Warden https://www.secondfront.com/game-warden product, a fully managed and compliant DevSecOps platform, accelerates the process for accrediting software as a service (SaaS) applications for government use. Learn how 2F can help you make an impact on national security missions at www.secondfront.com http://www.secondfront.com ONE LAST THING: We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Are you ready to join our team: To apply, click the “Apply for This Job” button at the top or bottom of this page and complete the application form. This position will remain open until filled, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. STATE NOTICES: Colorado: In accordance with Colorado law, applicants may redact their date of birth, dates of attendance, and dates of graduation from any uploaded documents. Maryland: Under Maryland law, an employer may not require or demand, as a condition of employment, prospective employment, or continued employment, that an individual submit to or take a polygraph examination or similar test. An employer who violates this law is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine not exceeding $100. Compensation: $160K - $190K