> 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 Engineer Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/bf15e90ac28054b0 Sift posts a FDE role to integrate and configure the product in Marina Del Rey, CA and 1 more, at $125,000–$175,000 base, below the senior FDE median of $190,000 across 1,849 postings with pay. Forward Deployed Engineers adapt a high-frequency telemetry platform to solve complex customer engineering problems across aerospace, autonomous systems, and renewable energy. Read from the employer’s posting on November 6, 2026. - [Sift](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/sift) Posted Mar 23, 2026 by Sift · open on Ashby as of Nov 6, 2026 **$125,000–$175,000** + equity Marina Del Rey, CA +1 Hybrid, Mon–Thu in office Full-time Forward Deployed Engineers adapt a high-frequency telemetry platform to solve complex customer engineering problems across aerospace, autonomous systems, and renewable energy. - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2Fbf15e90ac28054b0&placement=top) - [View posting at Sift](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/siftstack/ab86585a-49d9-4e74-8741-d6a3c997ac30/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 $125K–$175K Below the median Midpoint $150K · median $190K This job $125K to $175K. Senior FDE postings, 1,849 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K. ### The work Integrates and configures it Balance **Mostly building** Project stages 1. Pre-sales (not covered) 2. Proof of concept (not covered) 3. Implementation 4. Operations Travel **Up to 15%** - **Coding**: Writes production code - **Builds for**: External customers - **Level**: Senior - **Role**: Individual contributor ### What they ask for Experience - **2+ years** software engineering or data engineering Background - **Software engineering** - **Implementation and data engineering** ### Do you meet what the posting states? The posting asks for 2+ years. How many do you have? The posting reads as a senior role. What level are you at now? The job is in Marina Del Rey, CA · San Francisco, CA. Could you work in one of these? 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**: Marina Del Rey, CA · San Francisco, CA - **Work arrangement**: Hybrid, Mon–Thu in office - **Remote work restrictions**: Hybrid: in person Monday-Thursday; open to LA or SF office. - **Employment type**: Full-time - **Travel**: Up to 15% - **Pay**: ## More like this [Sift](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/sift) Builds what the customer runs ### [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/ad72b237f4fa55ef) San Francisco, CA · Los Angeles, CA Hybrid 3mo ago $125,000–$175,000 [Tempus](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/tempus) ### [Solution Architect](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/91ace0e301c6a383) New York, NY · Redwood City, CA · +1 more 5d ago $100,000–$130,000 [CHAOS Industries](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/chaos-industries) ### [Technical Operations Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/1c3165738a50dbac) El Segundo, CA On-site Yesterday $140,000–$190,000 - [Other jobs at Sift (3)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/sift) ## The job description from Sift Posted by Sift on Mar 23, 2026 ### About Sift Sift is the data infrastructure platform for hardware engineering teams. Sift turns high-frequency telemetry into engineering insights for mission-critical systems. Teams use Sift to build and operate rockets, satellites, autonomous vehicles, energy systems, defense platforms, and more. Founded by former SpaceX engineers who built the tools behind Dragon and Starlink, Sift is building the data infrastructure to herald the AI era for physical systems. ### About the Role Forward Deployed Engineers bridge the gap between Sift’s cutting-edge telemetry platform and our customers’ complex engineering challenges. In this role, you’ll work directly with customer teams to adapt Sift’s capabilities to their needs, build custom solutions, and foster deep partnerships. You’ll collaborate with product and engineering teams to translate customer requirements into actionable insights, ensuring our platform evolves to meet real-world demands. We’re looking for an engineer who thrives in dynamic, customer-facing environments and is passionate about industries like aerospace, autonomous systems, and renewable energy. This is a rare opportunity to join an early-stage startup and directly impact the success of next-generation machines. You will report to our Forward Deployed Engineering Lead and play a critical role in delivering value to our customers. ### In This Role, You’ll - Partner with customers to understand their technical challenges and adapt Sift’s platform to meet their specific needs. - Develop custom solutions and integrations using Sift APIs to solve customer problems. - Translate customer requirements into actionable feedback for product and engineering teams. - Create and maintain integrations with common engineering tools to enhance customer workflows. - Prepare materials and assist in technical onboarding and training sessions for customer teams. - Build strong, trust-based relationships with customers, acting as a technical partner and advocate. ### The Skillset You’ll Bring - 2+ years of experience in software engineering or data engineering. - Proficiency in Python and familiarity with REST APIs. - Basic understanding of data analysis and visualization techniques. - Strong problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail. - Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences. - Passion for aerospace, autonomous systems, or advanced engineering applications. - Eagerness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced startup environment. - Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, engineering, math, physics, or a STEM discipline. ### Bonus Points - Experience in any of the following: - Aerospace systems, satellite operations, or autonomous vehicle development. - Data streaming technologies or time-series databases (e.g., Kafka, InfluxDB). - SQL and database concepts. - Cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure). - Software integration challenges in complex systems. - Machine learning or AI applications in engineering. - Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and apply new technologies. ### What We’re Looking For - Someone with a customer-first mindset who’s excited to solve real-world engineering problems in the field. - An engineer who thrives in ambiguity and can adapt quickly to evolving customer needs. - A collaborative team player who can work effectively with customers, engineers, and go-to-market teams to drive impact. ### Location & Travel - Sift’s headquarters is in **Marina Del Rey, CA** (Next to LAX). We collaborate **in person** four times a week—**Monday through Thursday**—and come together for a full week every quarter. We are open to **relocating candidates to LA** or **working from our San Francisco** office for the right candidate. - Ability to travel 10-15% required. Varies by location and customer needs. Sift headquarters is located in Los Angeles (Marina del Rey), and we work in a hybrid environment. We work closely with hardware companies building everything from autonomous vehicles to spacecraft, and it's essential to be nearby for site visits and collaboration. Salary range: $125,000 - $175,000 per year. Plus equity and benefits. ### Eligibility **US Person Required**: Must be a **U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder** due to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) / EAR (Export Administration Regulations) compliance requirements. [View posting at Sift](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/siftstack/ab86585a-49d9-4e74-8741-d6a3c997ac30/application) ## About Sift Real-time observability platform that ingests, stores, and visualizes high-frequency hardware telemetry for aerospace, defense, robotics, and energy engineering teams. Series B · 50–100 people ## Similar jobs [AKASA](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/akasa) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/6b9e2488e7fb7a49) San Francisco, CA Hybrid 3mo ago $150,000–$170,000 [Artos](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/artos) ### [Technical Solutions Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/a0d9292fb18531b4) San Francisco, CA Hybrid 4mo ago $166,500–$231,000 [Sight Machine](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/sight-machine) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/6fccfe73bcb865c3) San Francisco, CA Hybrid 4w ago $140,000–$175,000 [AppLovin](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/applovin) ### [Partner Solutions Engineer ](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/650f0f85c1458b49) Palo Alto, CA 5mo ago $126,000–$188,000 [Noble Machines](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/noble-machines) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/77d9339706f473d9) Sunnyvale, CA On-site 1mo ago $140,000–$195,000 - [Compare senior FDE salary ranges](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/senior) - [Similar jobs in SF Bay Area](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?region=sf-bay-area) - [Similar jobs that integrate and configure the product](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?role=technical-delivery) Hiring at Sift and want this page changed or removed? 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