> 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. # Deployment Strategist, New Business Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/562f927e966c34cd Rivet Industries posts a FDE role to plan what the customer deploys first in Washington, DC, at $140,000–$200,000 base, below the senior FDE median of $190,000 across 1,864 postings with pay. Identify and validate new customer segments, markets, and use cases Read from the employer’s posting on November 8, 2026. - [Rivet Industries](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/rivet-industries) Posted Jul 1, 2026 by Rivet Industries · open on Ashby as of Nov 8, 2026 **$140,000–$200,000** + equity Washington, DC On-site Full-time Identify and validate new customer segments, markets, and use cases - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2F562f927e966c34cd&placement=top) - [View posting at Rivet Industries](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/rivet/f9b0e709-9d66-426b-92ab-19b2635ee617/application) 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 $140K–$200K Below the median Midpoint $170K · median $190K This job $140K to $200K. Senior FDE postings, 1,864 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K. ### The work Plans what the customer deploys first Balance **Mostly pre-sales or support** Project stages 1. Pre-sales 2. Proof of concept 3. Implementation 4. Operations Travel **Up to 70%** - **Builds for**: External customers - **Level**: Senior - **Role**: Technical lead ### What they ask for Experience - **5+ years** customer-facing roles spanning business development, technical sales, strategy, deployment, or program execution for complex technology solutions Background - **Solutions and customer engineering** ### Do you meet what the posting states? The posting asks for 5+ years. How many do you have? The posting reads as a senior role. What level are you at now? The job is in Washington, DC. 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**: Washington, DC - **Work arrangement**: On-site - **Employment type**: Full-time - **Travel**: Up to 70% - **Pay**: ## More like this [Usul](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/usul) ### [Deployment Strategist](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/fc9099f16c8dfd11) San Francisco, CA · Washington, DC On-site 3mo ago $140,000–$200,000 [Eudia](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/eudia) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer - Eudia for Government](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/16a20fbf5fdf4a3f) Washington, DC Remote 3mo ago $160,000–$200,000 [Scale AI](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/scale-ai) ### [Engagement Manager (Homeland Layered Defense), Public Sector](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/7c8c10267b57092d) Washington, DC 2mo ago $166,400–$208,000 - [Other jobs at Rivet Industries (6)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/rivet-industries) ## The job description from Rivet Industries Posted by Rivet Industries on Jul 1, 2026 **About Rivet** Rivet is an American company building integrated task systems — fusing hardened hardware with software, sensors, AI, and networking — for industrial workforces and defense personnel. We create capabilities that multiply the effectiveness of every individual and withstand the world’s toughest environments. We serve the people who build, operate, maintain, and defend our way of life. From technicians and engineers to first responders and service members, they embody the hard work, ingenuity, and meritocratic values that drive Western prosperity. Yet too often they are forced to rely on outdated tools that fail under modern pressures. Rivet exists to reset that priority. At Rivet, you’ll join a mission-driven team that fuses disciplines to deliver decisive outcomes where they matter most. Whether shaping our technology, strengthening our partnerships, or building our culture, every role here contributes to equipping the front lines with the modern systems they deserve. **Work Authorization Requirement: Due to the nature of our business and compliance with federal regulations, all candidates must be a "U.S. Person". Upon hire, you will be required to provide documentation verifying your status as a U.S. Citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).** ### Summary The Deployment Strategist (DS) ensures the successful definition, implementation, and operations of new systems with Rivet customers. The DS guides customer and Rivet collaboration, aligning teams and deployment plans to meet mutual objectives. The strategist is responsible for analyzing customer conditions, understanding data insights, and developing actionable plans to achieve desired outcomes. Additionally, the DS anticipates potential challenges, devising solutions to mitigate risks – or to achieve win/win competitive advantage. As a relationship manager, the DS serves as a liaison between technical teams and customer stakeholders, facilitating clear understanding of project goals and progress. The strategist monitors deployment activities, provides regular updates, and ensures fidelity to agreed timelines and milestones. This role favors strong planning skills, acumen for technology breakthroughs with large customers, and a bias toward iterative action. At Rivet, the DS is uniquely positioned to create long-term value with customers trusting us with their most strategic projects. In addition to deployment execution, the DS plays a key role in shaping new business opportunities. This includes partnering with commercial and technical teams to scope prospective engagements, contribute to technical and programmatic proposals, and translate customer needs into compelling, executable plans. The DS ensures continuity between what is proposed and what is ultimately delivered. **For this particular role, the DS, New Business is responsible for identifying and developing new customer segments and market opportunities where Rivet can deliver differentiated value. You will develop a thesis around a specific customer problem or market, validate demand directly with customers and stakeholders, and build the path from initial engagement to a $M-scale pilot in under 6 months and a $MM-scale program in under 18 months. This is a highly entrepreneurial role: you will be expected to create opportunities where they do not yet exist, turn customer demand into value, and work across Rivet to convert promising markets into durable businesses.** ### Responsibilities - Identify and develop new customer segments, markets, and use cases where Rivet’s technology can solve meaningful, high-value problems - Develop and validate market theses by engaging directly with customers and stakeholders to understand pain points, buying dynamics, competitive landscape, and demand - Build relationships with prospective customers and partners, identify champions and decision-makers, and create demand for Rivet’s solutions - Partner with commercial and engineering teams to translate customer needs into compelling technical approaches, proposals, deployment strategies, and executable plans - Own opportunities from initial hypothesis through customer validation, pilot definition, proposal, and program expansion, with a goal of securing a $M-scale pilot within 6 months and a $MM-scale program within 18 months - Act as the customer voice and internal owner for new opportunities, ensuring alignment across Rivet teams and continuity from what is proposed through what is ultimately delivered ### Requirements - 5+ years of experience in customer-facing roles spanning business development, technical sales, strategy, deployment, or program execution for complex technology solutions - Demonstrated ability to identify a customer problem or market opportunity, develop a commercial thesis, and turn it into a successful customer engagement - Experience selling or deploying complex technology solutions within DoW and/or industrial enterprise organizations; aerospace or defense platform experience strongly preferred - Experience owning or contributing to technical proposals, SOW development, capture efforts, or other complex enterprise/government sales processes - Exceptional customer development and communication skills, with the ability to build trust with senior technical, operational, and executive stakeholders - Ability to travel 35-70%; we are building sophisticated, controlled systems with hardware and software – you will be embedded with the team in office or at the customer point of need - This position requires U.S. citizenship due to contract obligations; must hold an active U.S. security clearance and/or have the ability to be cleared Compensation may vary within the posted range based on relevant experience, skills, education, and other job-related factors. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for equity and other forms of compensation. Eligible employees also receive a competitive benefits package, including unlimited PTO. Rivet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Certain roles may require U.S. Person status, security clearance eligibility, or other requirements imposed by law or government contract. [View posting at Rivet Industries](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/rivet/f9b0e709-9d66-426b-92ab-19b2635ee617/application) ## Similar jobs [Altana](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/altana) ### [ Staff AI Deployment Strategist ](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/4676a0bf140baee3) Brooklyn, NY · Washington, DC Hybrid 12d ago $165,000–$195,000 [GovSignals](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/govsignals) ### [Senior Federal Deployment Strategist](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/b12521324312a352) Washington, DC Hybrid 4w ago $140,000–$200,000 [Sitreps](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/sitreps) ### [Senior Forward Deployed Strategist, Public Sector](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/a286130f619ca1d4) Washington, DC · San Francisco, CA On-site 2mo ago $147,000–$185,000 [Anduril](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/anduril) ### [Senior Product Manager, Forward Deployed](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/9032dab744aa4439) Washington, DC 4w ago $166,000–$220,000 [Seekr](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/seekr) ### [Deployment Strategist ](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/105d5ad33f153b39) Austin, TX · Menlo Park, CA · +1 more Hybrid 2mo ago $180,000–$235,000 - [Compare senior FDE salary ranges](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/senior) - [Similar jobs in Washington, DC area](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?region=dmv) - [Similar jobs that plan what the customer deploys first](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?role=strategist) Hiring at Rivet Industries and want this page changed or removed? 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