> 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 Software Engineer

Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/c90a59a727564bd5

ConductorAI posts a FDE role to build what the customer runs in Washington, DC, at $150,000–$220,000 base, level with the senior FDE median of $190,000 across 1,864 postings with pay. Configure, customize, troubleshoot, and support ConductorAI software in customer environments Read from the employer’s posting on November 8, 2026.

- [ConductorAI](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/conductorai)

First seen Oct 4, 2026 · open on Ashby as of Nov 8, 2026

**$150,000–$220,000** + equity Washington, DC Hybrid Full-time

Configure, customize, troubleshoot, and support ConductorAI software in customer environments

- [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2Fc90a59a727564bd5&placement=top)
- [View posting at ConductorAI](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/conductorai/9033a187-9713-44ea-aaa2-efad092673c2/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–$220K Level with the median

Midpoint $185K · median $190K

This job $150K to $220K. 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
2. Proof of concept (not covered)
3. Implementation
4. Operations

Travel **Up to 40%**

- **Coding**: Writes production code

- **Builds for**: External customers

- **Level**: Senior

- **Role**: Individual contributor

### What they ask for

Experience

- **2+ years** professional software engineering or forward deployed engineering experience

Background

- **Software engineering**
- **Forward deployed engineering**

Visa

- **No visa sponsorship**

### 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 Washington, DC. Could you work there?

The posting says no visa sponsorship. Do you need one?

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**: Washington, DC

- **Work arrangement**: Hybrid

- **Remote work restrictions**: Washington, DC area; regular onsite work in customer environments

- **Employment type**: Full-time

- **Visa sponsorship**: Not available

- **Travel**: Up to 40%

- **Pay**:

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## The job description from ConductorAI

### Introduction

We value candidates who have significant experience with managing complexity, working independently, and are motivated by hard problems.

### What We Offer

- The ability to have real impact on mission-critical workflows
- The chance to use state-of-the-art tech to solve novel problems with mission partners
- The opportunity to define your role through time as we grow
- Competitive salary and equity upside with annual merit refreshes based on impact

### Position Overview

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you will sit at the intersection of engineering and customer partnership. You will be onsite with customers regularly, building trust, diagnosing needs, and translating user feedback directly into product improvements. You are still fundamentally an engineer: you will write code, debug systems, and help shape the architecture of a platform built to leverage LLMs and modern AI application techniques. But you are equally comfortable in a customer briefing room as you are in a terminal.

This role is for someone who finds it energizing to own the full loop: understand the problem, build the solution, deploy it, and watch it create value for users in real time. You should be comfortable with ambiguity, have a bias for action, and take pride in the quality and reliability of what you ship. You will work on a small, tight-knit team and will be expected to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to users and stakeholders with varying levels of technical fluency.

As an early team member, you will also help shape our culture, processes, and product direction. We expect you to measure your work by impact, not activity.

### Location

Washington, DC area. Up to 40% travel domestically and OCONUS.

### Key Responsibilities

- Go onsite to customer environments to configure, optimize, and support ConductorAI software, including customizing workflows for specific customer use cases and troubleshooting the system
- Write and maintain production-quality code in Python and TypeScript within a small engineering team
- Work directly with users to gather feedback, understand workflows, and translate insights into actionable product requirements
- Debug and improve system reliability, performance, and usability based on real-world customer usage
- Build and deliver technical demonstrations to new and existing customers
- Collaborate with the product and engineering team to develop new features, with a direct line from customer need to shipped capability
- Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve operational efficiency at customer sites
- As a core team member, contribute to company strategy, culture, and evolving responsibilities as we grow

### Qualifications

- Active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance required at time of hire; required due to the classified nature of work performed under US government contracts
- US citizenship required by applicable federal law and government contract obligations (ITAR/EAR); we are unable to consider green card holders or sponsor visas for this role
- 2+ years of professional software engineering or forward deployed engineering experience
- Proficiency in Python and TypeScript
- Experience working directly with end users or customers in a technical capacity
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences
- Comfort operating with high autonomy in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
- Experience with LLMs and modern AI application techniques
- Ability to travel up to 40% domestically and OCONUS

### Desired Qualifications

- Active TS or TS/SCI clearance
- Experience in defense, intelligence, or national security environments
- Experience at an early-stage startup or in fast-moving, ambiguous environments
- Background in system design or full-stack development
- Existing relationships with DoD or civil agency stakeholders

### Compensation

The base salary range for this role is $150,000-220,000, with the opportunity for meaningful equity commensurate with a Series A stage opportunity. Candidates with an active TS or TS/SCI clearance may be eligible for compensation at the higher end of the range. Starting pay will be based on qualifications, experience, and location. This range reflects base salary only and does not include equity or other compensation components.

*ConductorAI is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.*

[View posting at ConductorAI](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/conductorai/9033a187-9713-44ea-aaa2-efad092673c2/application)

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- [Compare senior FDE salary ranges](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/senior)
- [Similar jobs in Washington, DC area](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?region=dmv)
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