$155,000–$190,000
Founding Forward Deployed Engineer
Published · Updated
$130,000–$215,000San Francisco, CA · New York, NYSan Francisco, CA +1Hybrid
A founding forward deployed engineer partners with law enforcement professionals and prosecutors to solve evidence-workflow challenges through custom solutions, integrations, and product features.
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View posting at CleraAt a glance
Posted base pay
$130K–$215KBelow the median
Median $188K
This job$130K–$215KTypical senior FDE payMiddle 50% of 1,748 postings$160K–$220KThe work
Builds what the customer runs
Balance
- Mostly building
- Mixed
- Mostly pre-sales or support
Project stages
- Pre-sales (not covered)
- Proof of concept (not covered)
- Implementation
- Operations (not covered)
Travel Up to 75%
- Coding
- Writes production code
- Builds for
- External customers
- Level
- Senior
- Role
- Individual contributor
What they ask for
Experience
Background
Tools
Visa
Less common in FDE jobs
- Sponsors visas28%
- Hybrid35%
- Individual contributor or manager: Individual contributor50%
Share of US FDE postings that state each fact.
The job description from Clera
Posted by Clera on
About the Role
Join a small, early-stage public safety technology team as a founding forward deployed engineer. You will work alongside customers to address evidence management challenges, delivering practical solutions and bringing frontline insights into product decisions.
What You'll Do
- Work directly with law enforcement professionals and prosecutors to understand their evidence workflows and technical challenges.
- Build solutions for immediate user needs, including one-off analyses and custom integrations.
- Spend 25% to 75% of your time traveling to meet customers and observe their workflows.
- Translate customer feedback into code, product features, and clear technical specifications.
- Adapt quickly as priorities and requirements evolve in an early-stage environment.
What We're Looking For
- At least 3 years of software engineering experience building and delivering production systems, including experience at an early-stage startup.
- Experience building software that addresses real user problems and working directly with end users to turn their needs into technical solutions.
- Comfort operating across the full stack and delivering practical analyses, integrations, or other focused solutions.
- High autonomy, a bias toward action, and the ability to work through ambiguity and shifting priorities.
- Founding-stage technical leadership experience or a notable achievement demonstrating strong ownership.
- Interest in public safety and government technology; experience in regulated or sensitive domains, investigative workflows, or government technology is helpful.
- Willingness to support required background checks and the CJIS clearance process.
Compensation & Benefits
Base salary: $130,000 to $215,000 annually. Founding-level equity and performance-based bonuses are available. Visa sponsorship is available.
Location
Hybrid in San Francisco, California, with New York City also listed as a location. Regular customer travel is expected. Remote arrangements with regular travel may be considered for exceptional candidates.
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