> 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 Mission Strategist, Unmanned Maritime Systems Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/6b9f5c3cb82edd57 Sitreps posts a FDE role to plan what the customer deploys first in Norfolk, VA, at $165,000–$185,000 base, below the senior FDE median of $190,000 across 1,849 postings with pay. Embed with the Navy’s unmanned surface vessel community in Norfolk to identify operational needs and translate them into software capabilities, workflows, and field-ready releases. Read from the employer’s posting on November 6, 2026. - [Sitreps](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/sitreps) Posted Oct 23, 2026 by Sitreps · open on Greenhouse as of Nov 6, 2026 **$165,000–$185,000** *annualized* + equity Norfolk, VA On-site Full-time Embed with the Navy’s unmanned surface vessel community in Norfolk to identify operational needs and translate them into software capabilities, workflows, and field-ready releases. - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2F6b9f5c3cb82edd57&placement=top) - [View posting at Sitreps](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/sitrepsllc/jobs/4465117009) 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 $165K–$185K Below the median Midpoint $175K · median $190K This job $165K to $185K. Senior FDE postings, 1,849 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K. ### The work Plans what the customer deploys first Balance **Mostly building** Project stages 1. Pre-sales (not covered) 2. Proof of concept (not covered) 3. Implementation 4. Operations Travel **Required, amount not stated** - **Coding**: Writes production code - **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 Norfolk, VA. 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**: Norfolk, VA - **Work arrangement**: On-site - **Remote work restrictions**: On site in Norfolk at least 3 days a week; weekly in-person attendance required, with possible extra travel during experimentation periods. - **Employment type**: Full-time - **Travel**: Travel required, amount not stated - **Pay**: ## More like this [Endeavor](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/endeavor) ### [Deployment Strategist](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/f8f52f3f7c8a63bd) Chicago, IL On-site 3mo ago $125,000–$225,000 [Clay](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/clay) ### [Growth Strategist, Enterprise (Deployment Strategist) - NY](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/cc642d975ed538f2) New York, NY Hybrid 3w ago $150,000–$190,000 [Promise](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/promise) ### [Deployment Strategist](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/7f32fde709eff4d0) San Francisco, CA Hybrid 6w ago $150,000–$210,000 - [Other jobs at Sitreps (6)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/sitreps) ## The job description from Sitreps Posted by Sitreps on Oct 23, 2026 **Forward Deployed Mission Strategist, Unmanned Maritime Systems** **Company:** Venture-backed defense AI software company (name disclosed upon mutual interest) **Location:** Norfolk, Virginia. On site with operators at least 3 days a week (local, relocating, or weekly travel). **Role Type:** Full-Time Employee **Clearance:** Not required to start; must be eligible and willing to obtain TS/SCI **Compensation:** $165,000–$185,000 base, plus equity **About the Client** Our client builds AI-enabled software for high-stakes U.S. military and national security missions. Its software is already in operational use across the armed services, and its people (engineers and product leaders included) work forward, side by side with the units that own the mission, rather than building from a distance. **About the Role** The company is building software for planning, monitoring, and reviewing unmanned surface vessel (USV) missions, and is hiring a forward-deployed strategist to embed with the Navy's USV community in Norfolk. You will work alongside operators on site at least three days a week, plus waterfront and test time that may mean extra travel during experimentation periods. How these systems are operated is still being worked out, by the very operators you will sit with. This is a 0-to-1 role. Nobody has settled yet how USVs operate best or what software they need. You will figure that out with the Navy and with the company's mission and engineering teams: understand what operators and commanders are trying to do, break messy operational problems into specific software problems, drive the capability needed, and put it into use. Some of that is configuration and workflow design in existing products; much of it is new capability built side by side with mission partners. **This is not a typical customer success, solutions, or product job.** You will have access to government systems and operational settings most of the company does not, and you will be the bridge between USV teams and engineers. The work can be gritty, and you will often operate on your own on site, with support from product, engineering, and leadership. **Responsibilities** - **Embed with operators.** Work on site with USV operators and mission planners in Norfolk and build deep intuition for unmanned surface operations, including underway and during fleet experimentation. - **Prioritize the problems.** Use what you learn first-hand to distill and rank the mission problems worth solving. - **Build what works.** Set up the workflows that matter most, refining them until they hold up on actual missions. - **Own release quality.** Track down bugs on fielded government systems and get them fixed with engineering. - **Generate mission wins.** Turn what gets deployed during operations into clear wins with Navy partners. - **Operate independently.** Set priorities on site and move work forward without waiting for perfect direction. **Requirements** **Must-Haves** - In person in Norfolk every week, whether you are local, relocate (relocation is covered), or travel in weekly. - Experience or strong interest in unmanned or manned surface vessels, unmanned systems, or software for planning, running, or monitoring hardware operations (space, for example). - Experience using technology to solve difficult problems, from product or engineering work or from fielding new technology in the military, and a proven knack for breaking problems into parts. - High ownership amid ambiguity, and the grit to push through iteration and friction until you get results. - Experience working with autonomous or unmanned platforms. ### Nice-to-Haves - An active TS/SCI clearance. Not required, but you must be eligible and willing to be cleared. **Compensation & Benefits** Base salary is $165,000 to $185,000, plus equity. - Medical, dental, and vision insurance - 401(k) match - Unlimited PTO - Fully paid parental leave - Wellness and lifestyle stipends - Pay support during military reserve duty [View posting at Sitreps](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/sitrepsllc/jobs/4465117009) ## About Sitreps Veteran career platform combining recruiting, AI transition guidance, pay data, job discovery, and community for military-to-civilian career moves. Bootstrapped · 10–50 people ## Similar jobs [Salesforce](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/salesforce) ### [Forward Deployed Process Senior/Principal Process Consultant](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/67ce6e554b7cdd03) San Francisco, CA · Chicago, IL · +5 more 7w ago $117,200–$246,000 [Doss](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/doss) ### [Senior Forward Deployed Product Manager](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/d3d88f6a394e10a0) US Remote New · 2d ago $120,000–$210,000 [Linero](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/linero) ### [Deployment Strategist](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/3012fd60d4acff95) New York, NY On-site 5w ago $150,000–$220,000 [Avathon (formerly SparkCognition)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/avathon-formerly-sparkcognition) ### [Forward Deployed Design Lead — Product Lifecycle Management ](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/87eb7c87577eea63) Austin, TX · Pleasanton, CA Hybrid 6w ago $170,000–$200,000 [Silkline](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/silkline) ### [Deployment Strategist](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/bde948d34a35bcff) Seattle, WA · Chicago, IL 6w ago $150,000–$225,000 - [Compare senior FDE salary ranges](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/senior) - [Similar jobs that plan what the customer deploys first](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?role=strategist) Hiring at Sitreps and want this page changed or removed? 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