> 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. # Principal Mission Engineer - Full Stack (Secret Clearance Required) Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/aab2e4f9f651b87d STR posts a FDE role to build what the customer runs in San Diego, CA, at $240,000–$290,000 base, above the staff+ FDE median of $225,000 across 388 postings with pay. Leads full-stack software teams in STR’s Mission Applications Group, turning defense and intelligence customer needs into deployed software for operational use. Read from the employer’s posting on November 6, 2026. - [STR](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/str) Posted Nov 6, 2026 by STR · open on Greenhouse as of Nov 6, 2026 **$240,000–$290,000** San Diego, CA Hybrid Full-time Leads full-stack software teams in STR’s Mission Applications Group, turning defense and intelligence customer needs into deployed software for operational use. - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2Faab2e4f9f651b87d&placement=top) - [View posting at STR](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/systemstechnologyresearch/jobs/4727692006) 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 $240K–$290K Above the median Midpoint $265K · median $225K This job $240K to $290K. Staff+ FDE postings, 388 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $197K to $262K, median $225K. ### The work Builds what the customer runs Balance **Mostly building** Project stages 1. Pre-sales (not covered) 2. Proof of concept 3. Implementation 4. Operations Travel **Required, amount not stated** - **Coding**: Writes production code - **Builds for**: External customers - **Level**: Staff+ - **Role**: Technical lead ### What they ask for Experience - **8+ years** work experience ### Do you meet what the posting states? The posting asks for 8+ years. How many do you have? The posting reads as a staff-level 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. Nothing is saved or sent. [What postings ask for, by background →](https://nextmove.md/fde/paths) ## Conditions - **Location**: San Diego, CA - **Work arrangement**: Hybrid - **Remote work restrictions**: Hybrid; remote when work does not require STR or customer facilities. - **Employment type**: Full-time - **Travel**: Travel required, amount not stated - **Pay**: ## More like this [STR](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/str) ### [Principal Mission Engineer - Full Stack (Secret Clearance Required)](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/800410e566948379) US · city not listed Hybrid Yesterday $240,000–$290,000 [STR](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/str) ### [Principal Mission Engineer - Full Stack (Secret Clearance Required)](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/36c74c6c3896751b) Arlington, VA · Boston, MA · +5 more Hybrid Yesterday $240,000–$290,000 [Accenture](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/accenture) ### [AI Engineer - FDE Software Engineering Sr. Manager](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/d71e3d95228a376e) New York, NY · Milwaukee, WI · +40 more 7w ago $112,900–$302,400 - [Other jobs at STR (9)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/str) ## The job description from STR Posted by STR on Nov 6, 2026 **Principal Mission Engineer (Full Stack)** (Secret Clearance Required) ### The Team Information processing and sense-making systems are the lifeblood of national security efforts, facilitating an understanding of the global situation, strategic planning, and tactical execution. The reliability, accessibility, and sophistication of these systems can determine the outcomes of conflicts before they begin. STR’s Analytics and Command & Control (AC2) Division focuses on developing actionable, advanced technology solutions to provide asymmetric advantages within the information domain. The Mission Applications (MA) Group within the AC2 Division specializes in ensuring the technology that STR creates produces outsized mission impact. Staff within the MA group have a deep understanding of missions and technology needs for national security with skills targeting transition of technology to operational use, including product management, UX Product implementation, software integration & mission engineering, platform engineering, DevOps, and program management. MA staff combine with other science and engineering staff from the various STR research and development groups to form dedicated product teams focused on accelerating the operational transition of cutting-edge software technologies. ### The Role As a Principal Mission Engineer (Full Stack) in the Mission Applications Group, you will develop and deploy software essential for a specific, real-world objective or "mission" in partnership with our customers. We are looking for engineers who are high ownership and have a track record of delivering high impact work. You have: 1) expertise in developing and deploying software solutions in complex and high-security environments, 2) deep domain knowledge in the complex missions executed across the Department of Defense, and 3) expertise in modern frameworks, building full stack applications, and integrating APIs for deployment in high-security environments. You will work as a leader of software teams to design, develop, and maintain software systems deployed in operational use. You have experience managing customer relationships while simultaneously leading engineering teams to ensure the delivered product meets the highest standards of quality, reliability, and performance. This role includes: - Build Prototype Capabilities: Break down use cases and user-defined problems, build an MVP, and rapidly evolve a solution into a cohesive application. - Rapidly Scale Applications: Continue accelerated development trajectory on existing applications by building new workflows, increasing scalability and making high impact improvements, and addressing additional customer pain points in the context of existing applications and workflows. - Develop and Enhance Features: Create high-performance, visually appealing frontend solutions that handle complex use cases effectively. Ensure the product is fast, smooth, and intuitive to use, even under heavy load. - System Integration: Leading cross functional engineering teams to design, build, and deploy a cohesive system. Integrate independent capabilities into existing solutions. - Customer Collaboration: Working closely with end-users and customers, who are typically military or Government operators, to understand their requirements and translate them into software features. You are experienced in product discovery best practices. - Deployment and Field Testing: Traveling to integration sites to deploy, test, and triage software in secure operational environments. On average, travel to customer sites should not exceed one week per month. This role will take advantage of STR’s flexible, hybrid environment – when the work does not require use of STR’s or the customer’s facilities, you are welcome to work remotely. ### Who You Are - Must be a U.S. citizen - Active US Security Clearance - BS in Computer Science or related technical field with at least 8 years of work experience - Experience deploying software for DoD or IC missions - High sense of ownership and a track record of delivering high impact work - A passion for crafting user-centric interfaces and a keen eye for design details - Demonstrated strong knowledge of modern technologies such as React, TypeScript, and Python - Knowledge of performance-focused tools and techniques for rendering large datasets and building responsive, smooth interfaces - A demonstrated ability to adopt new languages, libraries, and technologies - Organized, detail-oriented, and with an ability to work both independently and collaboratively - Demonstrated experience as an effective communicator to both technical and non-technical audiences ### Even Better - Active Security Clearance at the Top Secret level with SCI Eligibility - Advanced Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related technical field - Prior US Military Service with experience in joint planning, large force battle monitoring, and fluidity with large force debrief best practices **Pay Information** Full-Time Salary Range: $240,000 - $290,000 *The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.* STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, Carlsbad, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us. STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer. STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info. * STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.* *If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at appassist@str.us and provide your contact info.* *Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.* [View posting at STR](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/systemstechnologyresearch/jobs/4727692006) ## About STR Employee-owned national-security R&D firm building AI, cyber, sensing, and systems technology for U.S. defense and intelligence customers. 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