Forward Deployed Engineer

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

This role is located in San Francisco, CA . We collaborate in person four times a week— Monday through Thursday —and come together for a full week every quarter at our HQ in LA. We are open to relocating candidates to LA or our San Francisco office.

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.