> 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, Space Systems Command Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/7bd71aa29083eac6 Scale AI posts a FDE role to prove the product works before the sale in Los Angeles, CA, at $203,200–$254,000 base, above the senior FDE median of $190,000 across 1,864 postings with pay. Own account growth and full-cycle capture for Scale's Space Systems Command business, converting prototypes into funded Program of Record deployments across SSC's PEOs. Read from the employer’s posting on November 8, 2026. - [Scale AI](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/scale-ai) Posted Jul 9, 2026 by Scale AI · open on Greenhouse as of Nov 8, 2026 **$203,200–$254,000** Los Angeles, CA On-site, 3 days a week in office Full-time Own account growth and full-cycle capture for Scale's Space Systems Command business, converting prototypes into funded Program of Record deployments across SSC's PEOs. - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2F7bd71aa29083eac6&placement=top) - [View posting at Scale AI](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/scaleai/jobs/4713532005) 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 $203K–$254K Above the median Midpoint $229K · median $190K This job $203K to $254K. Senior FDE postings, 1,864 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K. [Compare pay across all Scale AI postings](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/scale-ai) ### The work Proves it works before the sale Balance **Mostly pre-sales or support** Project stages 1. Pre-sales 2. Proof of concept 3. Implementation 4. Operations Travel **Up to 30%** - **Coding**: No coding - **Builds for**: External customers - **Level**: Senior - **Role**: Individual contributor ### What they ask for Experience - **7+ years** Space operations, government acquisitions, complex enterprise IT sales, or defense business development Background - **Solutions and customer engineering** ### Do you meet what the posting states? The posting asks for 7+ years. How many do you have? The posting reads as a senior role. What level are you at now? The job is in Los Angeles, CA. 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**: Los Angeles, CA - **Work arrangement**: On-site, 3 days a week in office - **Remote work restrictions**: Based in the Los Angeles area; work on-site or with the customer 3 days a week; proximity to SSC at Los Angeles AFB is essential. - **Employment type**: Full-time - **Travel**: Up to 30% - **Pay**: ## More like this [PackageX](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/packagex) ### [Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/15c5ce3ea0223520) US · city not listed Hybrid 5w ago $150,000–$175,000 [LangChain](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/langchain) ### [Deployed Engineer (Early Career- SF)](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/cf677e9e9ca98360) San Francisco, CA On-site 3mo ago $160,000–$185,000 · OTE [Celonis](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/celonis) ### [Senior Value Engineer - Banking](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/689f32bb2b9debbc) New York, NY Hybrid 5mo ago $157,000–$183,000 - [Other jobs at Scale AI (20)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/scale-ai) ## The job description from Scale AI Posted by Scale AI on Jul 9, 2026 Scale is building AI for the world's most important decisions. From the front lines of national defense to the core of global enterprise, we provide the data engine and agentic infrastructure that powers the next generation of American and allied interests. As a Deployment Strategist supporting Space Systems Command (SSC), you will bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI research and mission-critical production in the space domain. You will lead the charge in deploying Agentic AI — autonomous, reasoning systems — into space operations workflows, from space domain awareness to ground segment modernization to tasking and targeting. ### The Role We are looking for an executive account leader who understands that winning at SSC isn't about a successful 6-month OTA prototype; it's about Program of Record integration. You will focus on landing and transitioning high-stakes prototypes into full-scale deployments across SSC's Program Executive Offices, navigating the Valley of Death by securing executive sponsorship and programmed funding. This is an expansion role in a high-opportunity segment. Scale has significant USAF work and space-adjacent programs; your mandate is to convert that into core Space Force business. ### Responsibilities This is an individual contributor role with heavy leadership expectations. You are the "CEO of the Account," responsible for the following: - **Full-Spectrum Capture & Quota Ownership:** Carry and exceed a multi-million dollar annual revenue quota. You own the entire lifecycle: identifying top-of-funnel opportunity, shaping requirements, and driving to contract award and revenue recognition. - **Tactical Execution:** You don't just delegate; you execute. You will personally draft white papers and SBIR/OTA responses, lead complex proposal development, architect deal structures, and navigate the nuances of space acquisition. - **Operational Transition:** Once the deal is signed, your job isn't over. You will continue to lead the account, ensuring the delivery team (Engagement Managers, Technical PMs, Engineers, and Product) enables mission success. You are the primary point of contact, ensuring the pilot doesn't just work, but scales. - **Renewal, Expansion & Growth:** Own the long-term account strategy across SSC's PEOs. Identify the next use case, secure follow-on funding, and drive the growth that turns a single deployment into an enterprise standard. - **Direct Agentic Solutioning:** Work in the weeds with technical teams and operators to co-design Agentic AI workflows. You must be able to translate a Guardian's mission problem into a specific technical requirement our engineers can build against. - **SI & Prime Orchestration:** In partnership with Scale's Partner Managers, actively manage and negotiate with Tier 1 Systems Integrators and space primes to ensure Scale is the agentic AI engine inside their larger programs. You will be the lead negotiator on subcontracting and teaming agreements. ### Requirements - **Experience:** 7+ years across space operations, government acquisitions, complex enterprise IT sales, or defense business development. Time in uniform in the Space Force, or in Air Force space, counts heavily here. - **Proven Track Record:** You have closed and implemented multi-year deals and know how to get a line item into the budget. - **Domain Expertise:** Deep understanding of Space Force modernization priorities — space domain awareness, ground and command-and-control modernization, resilient architectures — and where AI/ML, computer vision, and autonomy apply. - **The Valley of Death Navigator:** Demonstrated ability to move technology from "cool demo" to "deployed capability" inside a major PEO or program office. - **Strategic Network:** Existing relationships across SSC and the broader Space Force enterprise, plus a Rolodex at the major space primes and integrators. - **Clearance:** Active Secret clearance required; TS/SCI strongly preferred. - **Education:** BS/BA required; technical degree or MBA preferred. - **Geography:** Based in the Los Angeles area, with the ability to work on-site or with the customer 3 days a week. Proximity to SSC at Los Angeles AFB is essential to this role. - **Travel:** Ability to travel 20-30% of the time. ### Who You Are - **Mission-Driven:** You believe whoever wins in AI wins the next century, and you want that to be the United States and its allies. - **Relentless:** You thrive in the long game of defense procurement. Bureaucracy doesn't discourage you; you see it as a puzzle to be solved. - **Adaptive:** You can operate in the high-velocity environment of a Series E startup while maintaining the polish required in front of a general officer. - **The Closer-Operator:** You have the executive presence to brief a PEO and the tactical stamina to spend 10 hours in a SCIF on a proposal response. - **Radically Accountable:** You don't wait for a marketing lead or a BD specialist to hand you a deal. You build your own funnel, navigate the "no's," and find the creative path to "yes." - **Technically Credible:** You aren't a software engineer, but you can explain the difference between RAG and agentic reasoning to a skeptical technical evaluator. *Compensation packages at Scale for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position and may be inclusive of several career levels at Scale; it will be determined during the interview process based on work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, interview performance, and relevant education or training. Scale employees in eligible roles are also granted equity based compensation, subject to Board of Director approval. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process, and confirm whether the hired role will be eligible for equity grant. You'll also receive benefits including, but not limited to: comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, a learning and development stipend, and generous PTO. Additionally, this role may be eligible for additional benefits such as a commuter stipend.* The base salary range for this full-time position in the location of California is: $203,200—$254,000 USD ** *PLEASE NOTE: *** *Our policy requires a 90-day waiting period before reconsidering candidates for the same role. This allows us to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation of all applicants.* ### About Us *At Scale, our mission is to develop reliable AI systems for the world's most important decisions. Our products provide the high-quality data and full-stack technologies that power the world's leading models, and help enterprises and governments build, deploy, and oversee AI applications that deliver real impact. We work closely with industry leaders like Meta, * *Ernst* *&* * Young, Mayo Clinic, Time Inc., the Government of Qatar, and U.S. government agencies including the Army and Air Force. We are expanding our team to accelerate the development of AI applications.* *We believe that everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work, which is why we are proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability status, gender identity or Veteran status. * *We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@scale.com. Please see the United States Department of Labor's * *Know Your Rights poster* * for additional information.* *We comply with the United States Department of Labor's * *Pay Transparency provision* *. * * **PLEASE NOTE: **We collect, retain and use personal data for our professional business purposes, including notifying you of job opportunities that may be of interest and sharing with our affiliates. We limit the personal data we collect to that which we believe is appropriate and necessary to manage applicants’ needs, provide our services, and comply with applicable laws. Any information we collect in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our internal policies and programs designed to protect personal data. Please see our privacy policy for additional information.* [View posting at Scale AI](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/scaleai/jobs/4713532005) ## About Scale AI Scale AI provides training data, model evaluations, and full-stack AI applications for frontier labs, enterprises, and governments. Late-stage private · 1000–2000 people ## Similar jobs [Impiricus](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/impiricus) ### [Product Solutions Architect](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/9fb3adfa1c242b58) New York, NY · Atlanta, GA Remote 2mo ago $170,000–$210,000 [Monte Carlo](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/monte-carlo) ### [Sr. Sales Engineer (Forward Deployed Engineer - Pre Sales)](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/6886f31d95415fc2) US Remote 5w ago $240,000–$270,000 [HackerRank](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/hackerrank) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/4dae1501bc8f76a6) Santa Clara, CA · Mountain View, CA Hybrid 6w ago $160,000–$185,000 [Rogo](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/rogo) ### [Forward Deployed, Sales & Trading](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/b3ebdacbcc34ac2b) New York, NY On-site 4mo ago $115,000–$200,000 [Deloitte US](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/deloitte-us) ### [ConvergeHEALTH Life Sciences - Product Forward Deployed Engineer - Products & Platforms](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/a3a9bf3e97167c62) Multiple US offices 2mo ago $105,400–$207,800 - [Compare senior FDE salary ranges](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/senior) - [Similar jobs in Los Angeles](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?region=greater-la) - [Similar jobs that prove the product works before the sale](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?role=presales) Hiring at Scale AI and want this page changed or removed? 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