Senior Software Engineer, FDE
Job Description
About Ditto:
Ditto is redefining how data moves at the edge. Our mission is to make it seamless for developers to build resilient, real-time applications, regardless of network conditions. Whether you're in a stadium, airplane, or remote military base, Ditto's peer-to-peer sync engine ensures devices stay connected and data stays consistent, even without internet. With more than $145 million in funding and trusted by organizations like Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, and the U.S. military, Ditto powers mission-critical experiences across aviation, retail, travel, hospitality, defense, and more. As a globally distributed, fast-growing startup, we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the wide range of perspectives needed to solve the world’s hardest connectivity problems.
About the Position
As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you are the technical tip of the spear. FDEs are elite, versatile engineers who work shoulder-to-shoulder with our most critical users to solve complex challenges in real time. Your primary mission is to radically decrease the time-to-value of our software by integrating it directly into the user's operational environment.
Because you see firsthand how our technology performs in the wild, you will also act as a crucial conduit, feeding technical insights and feature requirements back to our core product engineering team. This role requires a highly adaptable problem-solver who is comfortable moving fast, navigating ambiguity, and figuring things out quickly in high-stakes environments.
Key Responsibilities
Implement the Core Aggregation Node: Lead the on-site architecture, deployment, and configuration of our central data hub within a highly secure, distributed network environment.
Master Edge-to-Core Synchronization: You won't just be standing up standard relational databases. You will architect and troubleshoot complex, peer-to-peer data synchronization across edge devices utilizing CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) to manage state in decentralized environments.
Optimize Multi-Protocol Routing: Ensure reliable data flow from the tactical edge to the core by configuring and optimizing routing across heterogeneous and constrained network transports, including BLE, local Wi-Fi, and tactical radios.
Solve Problems in Real-Time: Act as the first line of technical defense, rapidly diagnosing and resolving infrastructure, network, and software issues as they arise on the ground.
Bridge the Gap: Translate the unique, edge-case operational realities you observe (e.g., severe bandwidth constraints, disconnected nodes) into actionable technical requirements for the core product development team.
What You’ll Need
Clearance Requirement: Must hold an active TS/SCI clearance (Due to federal security clearance requirements, U.S. Citizenship is strictly required for this role).
5+ years of experience in software engineering, forward deployed engineering, or site reliability engineering (SRE). This includes hands-on experience deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting complex systems in live production environments.
2+ years of technical experience working with distributed systems and cloud-native architectures. This includes practical experience with container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes, RKE2, K3s) and event streaming or data messaging platforms.
Prior experience with edge computing, state management, and complex data synchronization. You should understand the challenges of eventual consistency and decentralized architectures.
A highly adaptable, problem-solving mindset, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, move fast, and balance immediate operational fixes with long-term technical fidelity.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. As the crucial bridge between the operational edge and our core development team, you must be able to translate complex, edge-case technical realities and user workflows into clear, actionable requirements for product engineers.
Nice to Haves
Experience with secure data boundaries and mixed classification data. This includes hands-on familiarity with architecting or troubleshooting data flows across Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) to ensure secure, unidirectional data synchronization between unclassified and classified networks.
Prior experience navigating highly secure cloud infrastructures. You must understand the strict compliance and architectural constraints of operating at high impact levels (IL5/IL6).
Experience with advanced networking concepts and multi-protocol routing. This includes troubleshooting data flows and optimizing payloads across constrained, non-traditional, or intermittent networks.
Prior experience with CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) or local-first software architectures to manage complex data synchronization without a central server.
Direct experience operating at the tactical edge, including hardware/software integration with military communication systems, tactical radios, or mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs).
Familiarity with lightweight container orchestration and deploying workloads in highly resource-constrained environments (e.g., K3s, RKE2, or Nomad).
Previous experience working directly with DoD, IC, or federal customers, with an understanding of navigating highly secure, air-gapped, or classified network environments.
A background in systems programming (e.g., Rust, Go, or C++) alongside standard scripting, allowing for deep optimization of routing protocols and edge services.
The Benefits of Building with Us
We offer competitive salaries and meaningful equity. We believe everyone on the team should have a stake in what we’re building. Benefits vary by region to make sure you're covered in the ways that matter most. In the US, that includes health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, plus a 401(k) and flexible spending accounts.
Regardless of where you live, everyone at Ditto can utilize flexible time off. And while we work remotely, our Atlanta and San Francisco offices are open if you ever want a place to work or meet up with teammates.
Apply Anyway
At Ditto, we know game-changers don’t always come wrapped in a “perfect” resume. Years of experience? Every single bullet point checked? Meh. That’s not what drives us.
What does matter?
Grit.
Curiosity.
Adaptability.
And a genuine spark for what we’re building.
So if you’re fired up about our mission but not sure you tick every box - hit that apply button anyway. Use your application to show us how you’ll make an impact here.
We’re always on the lookout for exceptional humans who want to grow, stretch, and build something meaningful with us.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Ditto is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Ditto is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please let us know.