> AI agents: this is one page of Nextmove’s FDE site, in Markdown. Nextmove is a job board and free career service for forward deployed engineers (FDEs). Each posting is classified from its text, not its title: the kind of work, how much of it is production code, pre-sales weight, time at customer sites, travel, remote arrangement, level and posted base pay. The site also publishes the aggregates: median pay by level, metro, company and kind of work, and which companies started hiring FDEs each week. Every page under https://nextmove.md/fde is served this way; the index of pages is https://nextmove.md/llms.txt. # Forward Deployed Engineer Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/4815449361d21322 Raft posts a FDE role to integrate and configure the product in Huntsville, AL, at $110,000–$200,000 base, below the senior FDE median of $190,000 across 1,849 postings with pay. The Forward Deployed Engineer serves as the technical liaison for customers in Huntsville, supporting mission-critical production systems in secure, forward-deployed environments. Read from the employer’s posting on November 6, 2026. - [Raft](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/raft) Posted Oct 19, 2026 by Raft · open on Greenhouse as of Nov 6, 2026 **$110,000–$200,000** Huntsville, AL On-site The Forward Deployed Engineer serves as the technical liaison for customers in Huntsville, supporting mission-critical production systems in secure, forward-deployed environments. - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2F4815449361d21322&placement=top) - [View posting at Raft](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/raft/jobs/6223544004) Free. Upload your resume once, see why each FDE role fits, and get introduced only when you say so. ## At a glance ### Posted base pay $110K–$200K Below the median Midpoint $155K · median $190K This job $110K to $200K. Senior FDE postings, 1,849 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K. ### The work Integrates and configures it Balance **Mostly building** Project stages 1. Pre-sales (not covered) 2. Proof of concept (not covered) 3. Implementation 4. Operations Travel **Up to 25%** - **Coding**: Configuration only - **Builds for**: External customers - **Level**: Senior - **Role**: Individual contributor ### Do you meet what the posting states? The posting reads as a senior role. What level are you at now? The job is in Huntsville, AL. Could you work there? Which of these have you used in production? Answer each one. Nothing is saved or sent. [What postings ask for, by background →](https://nextmove.md/fde/paths) ## Conditions - **Location**: Huntsville, AL - **Work arrangement**: On-site - **Remote work restrictions**: All work must be conducted within the continental U.S. - **Travel**: Up to 25% - **Pay**: ## More like this [AKASA](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/akasa) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/6b9e2488e7fb7a49) San Francisco, CA Hybrid 3mo ago $150,000–$170,000 [Amazon (incl AWS)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/amazon-incl-aws) ### [Senior Delivery Consultant – DevOps, WWPS ProServe](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/8d8cc466b5d436e7) Denver, CO · Arlington, VA · +1 more 2mo ago $153,600–$207,800 [Starburst](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/starburst) ### [Sr Resident Solution Architect ](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/6d745691084eee73) US · city not listed 2w ago $150,000–$185,000 - [Other jobs at Raft (1)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/raft) ## The job description from Raft Posted by Raft on Oct 19, 2026 **This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require ** **U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.** ### Who we are Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting-edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. With headquarters in McLean, VA, our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans. ### About the role We're seeking a talented Forward Deployed Engineer to serve as the technical face of our organization in Huntsville, AL. This role combines deep engineering expertise with strong interpersonal skills to support mission-critical production systems in a forward-deployed environment. You'll be the go-to technical expert for our customers, troubleshooting complex system issues and ensuring operational excellence. ### What You'll Do - Serve as the primary technical liaison between our engineering teams and forward-deployed customers - Troubleshoot and debug production systems at the system level, ensuring maximum uptime and performance - Deploy, maintain, and support containerized applications in Kubernetes environments - Provide expert-level technical support for CICD pipelines and container orchestration platforms - Diagnose and resolve complex technical issues across diverse technology stacks - Collaborate with backend engineering teams to implement solutions and improvements - Support operational deployments and maintain system reliability in production environments - Interface directly with customer stakeholders in secure environments ### Required Qualifications - Strong engineering background with proven experience deploying and supporting production systems - Solid understanding of software engineering principles and practices - Hands-on experience with Kubernetes debugging and troubleshooting - Expertise in CICD tools and methodologies - Demonstrated ability in system-level debugging across multiple platforms - Broad technical knowledge spanning various technologies and architectures - Excellent communication skills with ability to interface effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders - Outgoing personality with strong customer-facing capabilities ### Desired Qualifications - Prior experience working in SCIF environments or with cleared customers - Previous INDOPACOM experience or familiarity with the region - Kubernetes certifications (CKA - Certified Kubernetes Administrator or CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) - Experience with OpenShift or other Kubernetes distributions - Background supporting DoD or federal government customers - Familiarity with containerization technologies and cloud-native architectures ### Clearance Requirements - Active Secret with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance ### Work Type - Onsite in Huntsville, AL - May require up to 25% travel to both CONUS and OCONUS locations (Must possess a valid, active US passport with at least six months validity beyond intended period of employment to facilitate international travel and meet security requirements for government contracts.) **Salary Range**: **$110,000 - $200,000 ** - The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities ### What we will offer you - Highly competitive salary - Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage - 401(k) and company match - Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays - Education & training benefits - Generous Referral Bonuses - And More! ### Our Vision Statement We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. ### Our Customer Obsession We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies. ### How do we get there? Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. Raft’s core philosophy is **Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are**. We support our *“nadi”* by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration. **We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.** [View posting at Raft](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/raft/jobs/6223544004) ## About Raft Raft develops open-architecture mission software that fuses defense data and applies AI to support operational awareness and decisions. Late-stage private · 200–500 people ## Similar jobs [F5](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/f5) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer - AI Security](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/732a6b39bb04b75f) WA, CA, OR 4w ago $138,400–$207,600 [MongoDB](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/mongodb) ### [Senior Consulting Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/f3951c000d435334) CO, IL, TX 2mo ago $105,000–$206,000 [Deloitte US](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/deloitte-us) ### [Cyber AI Data Engineer Senior Consultant](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/de9154f1d4599ef0) Multiple US offices 2mo ago $105,400–$207,800 [Temporal](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/temporal) ### [Senior Professional Services Engineer - West](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/0f85cac945b6edab) Seattle, WA Remote 2mo ago $132,600–$174,037 [LMI](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/lmi) ### [Data Engineer – Army Vantage / Palantir Foundry - Clearance Required](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/afb75b180918359f) US Remote 2w ago $120,000–$155,000 - [Compare senior FDE salary ranges](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/senior) - [Similar jobs that integrate and configure the product](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?role=technical-delivery) Hiring at Raft and want this page changed or removed? 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