I'm building a small, vetted network of engineers for DefenseTech and national-security software companies hiring for roles that ordinary technical recruiting struggles to fill: Forward Deployed Engineer, Mission Engineer, and Deployment / Field Engineer.
This is not a single Aptum job. When a company I'm working with has a role that fits you, I'll reach out, walk you through it, and only share your name and resume with your permission.
The profile
You can build, and you can operate. You've shipped working software or data systems, and you're comfortable at a customer site with imperfect data, constrained networks, ambiguous requirements, and users who care about the mission more than the architecture diagram.
Must have
- U.S. citizenship (required for the cleared roles these companies hire for)
- Evidence you've shipped production systems: Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, C++, Rust, SQL, APIs, data pipelines, cloud, Kubernetes, Linux, or ML/LLM applications
- Ability to explain technical tradeoffs to operators and mission owners
- Willingness to travel to customer sites when the role requires it
Security clearance
- Best: active TS/SCI or Secret clearance.
- Strong: previously held TS/SCI and out of access for under 24 months, so it can typically be reinstated without a new investigation.
- Also welcome: clearance-eligible engineers with direct DoD, IC, or federal customer experience. Some roles require an active clearance on day one; others will sponsor.
- I'll ask about polygraph type (CI or full-scope) because some roles require it. All clearance information is self-reported and is verified only by the hiring employer through its normal process.
Strong signals
- Military, intelligence, DoD, or federal mission experience
- Forward deployed, solutions, field, or mission engineering, or customer-embedded delivery
- Classified, air-gapped, or austere environments; OCONUS work
- Experience turning operator needs into working systems
Who's running this
I'm Nick Graham. I spent 12 years in the Army, mostly with 1st Special Forces Group, then ran operations at SightGain, a cybersecurity startup whose principal customers were DoD (Air Force and Space Force). Today I build data and AI systems, and I'm part of the inaugural Palantir American Tech Fellowship for Veterans.
What happens when you apply
If your background fits, I'll reach out for a short call about what you want next. Joining the network does not guarantee placement, employment, or an introduction.
If you can build technology and understand the mission, I want to hear from you.