> 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. # Mission Software Engineer Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/9c87c9e0c4f0cc49 HavocAI posts a FDE role to build what the customer runs in San Diego, CA, at $150,000–$185,000 base, below the senior FDE median of $190,000 across 1,864 postings with pay. Mission Software Engineer responsible for building, deploying, and owning mission-critical autonomy software used in real-world customer and operational environments. Read from the employer’s posting on November 8, 2026. - [HavocAI](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/havocai) Posted Feb 20, 2026 by HavocAI · open on Ashby as of Nov 8, 2026 **$150,000–$185,000** + equity San Diego, CA On-site Full-time Mission Software Engineer responsible for building, deploying, and owning mission-critical autonomy software used in real-world customer and operational environments. - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2F9c87c9e0c4f0cc49&placement=top) - [View posting at HavocAI](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/havocai/9f77117e-eb52-40e9-8c35-a7954514851f/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 $150K–$185K Below the median Midpoint $168K · median $190K This job $150K to $185K. Senior FDE postings, 1,864 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K. ### The work Builds what the customer runs Balance **Mostly building** Project stages 1. Pre-sales (not covered) 2. Proof of concept (not covered) 3. Implementation 4. Operations - **Coding**: Writes production code - **Builds for**: External customers - **Level**: Senior - **Role**: Individual contributor ### What they ask for Experience - **3+ years** C++, Python, or Rust in a Linux development environment ### Do you meet what the posting states? The posting asks for 3+ years. How many do you have? The posting reads as a senior role. What level are you at now? The job is in San Diego, CA. Could you work there? Which of these have you used in production? Answer each one. 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[What postings ask for, by background →](https://nextmove.md/fde/paths) ## Conditions - **Location**: San Diego, CA - **Work arrangement**: On-site - **Remote work restrictions**: Must be based in the San Diego, CA area or willing to relocate; onsite presence required. - **Employment type**: Full-time - **Pay**: ## More like this [HavocAI](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/havocai) ### [Mission Software Engineer - Honolulu, HI](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/31f4048356648863) Honolulu, HI On-site Since 2025 $150,000–$185,000 [Accenture](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/accenture) ### [Snowflake Advanced AI Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/bfaf5e58ec1e0a16) San Francisco, CA · Milwaukee, WI · +39 more 2mo ago $54,400–$205,800 [Databricks](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/databricks) ### [Sr. Forward Deployed Engineer - Public Sector](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/440870dea6def209) Berkeley, CA · Kansas City, MO · +1 more Remote New · 3d ago $182,000–$250,208 - [Other jobs at HavocAI (2)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/havocai) ## The job description from HavocAI Posted by HavocAI on Feb 20, 2026 ### About Us: Havoc is a leader in all-domain collaborative autonomy. Its software-defined hardware approach powers military and commercial-grade autonomous systems across sea, air, and land to sense, decide, and act together in complex and contested environments. Havoc connects assets, enabling them to share information, adapt in real time, and continue operating even when communications are disrupted or denied. Havoc optimizes mission performance and minimizes human risk. Havoc was founded in 2024 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Learn more at Havoc: All-Domain Collaborative Autonomy . ### About the Role: As a Mission Software Engineer at HavocAI, you’ll be at the heart of delivering autonomy where it matters most — in the field, alongside our customers, solving real-world challenges. This isn’t just about writing code; it’s about building, deploying, and owning software that ensures our autonomous systems perform flawlessly in operational environments. You’ll work across networking, autonomy, systems integration, and robotics to create mission-ready solutions that directly impact national security and maritime operations. From developing new capabilities to troubleshooting live deployments, you’ll balance speed, scalability, and engineering excellence with a relentless mission-first mindset. If you thrive in dynamic environments, enjoy collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and want to see your work tested and proven in the real world, this role offers the chance to make an immediate and meaningful impact. ### Key Responsibilities and Requirements: - Own and Deliver Solutions: Take ownership of software solutions deployed to customers, ensuring high-quality delivery that meets mission objectives. - Improve Mission Capabilities: Develop software that enhances HavocAI products for specific operational needs, collaborating with the platform engineering team to scale capabilities to broader use cases. - Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with multidisciplinary teams to plan, build, and test complex functionality. - Analyze and Monitor: Create and leverage performance metrics for debugging and monitoring deployed systems. - Troubleshoot and Resolve: Identify root causes of system issues, propose solutions, and coordinate next steps. - Partner with End-Users: Collaborate with customers and end-users to translate needs into features while balancing user experience with technical constraints. - Real-World Deployment ### Qualifications: - Strong engineering background, ideally in fields such as Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics. - 3+ years of experience with C++, Python, or Rust in a Linux development environment. - Experience building software solutions that involve significant data processing and analysis. - Ability to navigate and understand complex systems and established codebases quickly. - Passion for working on mission-critical software with real-world impact. - Must be a United States citizen and eligible for US Clearance. ### Preferred Skills: - Experience developing and testing multi-agent autonomous systems deployed in real-world scenarios. - Familiarity with robotics and autonomy frameworks such as ROS or MOOS-IvP. - Experience working with flight systems, safety-critical software, or hardware integration. - Understanding of distributed communication networks and messaging standards. - Knowledge of military systems and operational tactics. ### Location: - Must be based in the San Diego, CA area or willing to relocate. - Onsite presence is required. ### Benefits: - 100% Employer paid Health Insurance - Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families - Life Insurance (Employer Paid) - Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching) - Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum - Equity Package - Work / Home Office Stipend - Global Entry - 16 Week Paid Parental Leave - Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend ### Our Values: - **Innovation:** We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology. - **Integrity: **We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships. - **Mission-Driven:** We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission—protecting lives through innovation. - **Forward-Leaning:** We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity. - **Ownership of All Tasks:** At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same level of commitment and care. - **Servant Leadership:** We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long-term success and making a lasting impact. HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. [View posting at HavocAI](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/havocai/9f77117e-eb52-40e9-8c35-a7954514851f/application) ## About HavocAI Builds software-defined hardware and collaborative autonomy systems that let one operator coordinate heterogeneous autonomous assets across sea, air, and land in contested or communications-degraded environments. Series A · 200–500 people ## Similar jobs [STR](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/str) ### [Lead Mission Engineer - Full Stack ](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/473a8eb7a795e70f) Denver, CO · San Diego, CA · +2 more 6w ago $175,000–$240,000 [Booz Allen](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/booz-allen) ### [Palantir Foundry Developer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/54fd24cffb45900c) San Diego, CA · Mclean, VA 2mo ago $77,600–$176,000 [PwC (US)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/pwc-us) ### [Forward Deployed Software Engineer-Palantir Foundry-Senior Associate](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/8f2f106eae6e8759) Chicago, IL · Raleigh, NC · +57 more Hybrid 2w ago $77,000–$202,000 [Cadre AI](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/cadre-ai) ### [Forward Deployed AI Engineer | San Diego, CA](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/bb21b43f6b721f75) San Diego, CA 3mo ago $100,000–$140,000 [Medra](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/medra) ### [Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/8d9b4f103b1afb83) San Francisco, CA On-site 11d ago $130,000–$210,000 - [Compare senior FDE salary ranges](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/senior) - [Similar jobs in San Diego](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?region=san-diego) - [Similar jobs that build what the customer runs](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?role=builds-for-customers) Hiring at HavocAI and want this page changed or removed? 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