Senior Full-Stack Engineer - AI Defense Tech $220K in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
This is a high-ceiling, niche-premium role at the intersection of defense tech and modern AI engineering — a combination that commands top-of-market compensation and accelerates career trajectory in a rapidly growing sector.
Compensation vs. Market: At $170K–$220K base plus equity, this exceeds the median Senior Full-Stack Engineer salary in the US (~$150K–$170K). The TS/SCI clearance premium alone typically adds $20K–$40K over non-cleared equivalents, making the range fair-to-strong for the requirements.
Skills You'll Build:
- Agentic AI and LLM application development — one of the fastest-growing engineering specializations in 2024–2025.
- Forward-deployed engineering (FDE) — a high-prestige, increasingly in-demand hybrid role pioneered by companies like Palantir.
- Secure government cloud (AWS GovCloud, RMF) and enterprise integration (IdAM, SIEM) — rare, sticky skills with limited supply.
Culture Signals: "Newly funded," "high-priority team," and equity in a "well-capitalized, profitable enterprise" suggest a growth-stage defense tech startup with real revenue — lower risk than a pure pre-revenue startup, with more upside than a large defense contractor.
Green Flags: Meaningful equity, flexible PTO, strong mission alignment. Watch for: The 40–50% travel demand is significant and can cause burnout if not managed carefully. Confirm whether travel is predictable and scheduled well in advance.
Location: Remote (US) — New York / Tri-State Area preferred
Travel: 40%–50% (Key hubs include Washington, D.C., Tampa, San Diego, and New York)
Clearance: Active US Security Clearance required (TS/SCI strongly preferred; active Secret considered)
Compensation: $170,000 – $220,000 Base Salary + Equity + Comprehensive Benefits
Work Authorization: US Person required (US Citizen, Permanent Resident, Refugee, or Asylee; no visa sponsorship available)
About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Full-Stack Product Engineer to join a high-priority, newly funded product engineering team developing an agentic AI platform that processes large-scale datasets for real-time intelligence delivery.
In this hybrid product engineering and forward-deployed engineering (FDE) role, you will bridge the gap between software development and real-world deployment. You will work directly with end-user operators in sensitive environments, translate high-stakes operational requirements into production-ready software, and build full-stack features end-to-end.
Key Responsibilities
- Full-Stack Development: Design, build, and deploy core product capabilities across a modern tech stack (React, Python, PostgreSQL, Redis, and S3).
- Forward-Deployed Problem Solving: Partner directly with defense and intelligence operators on-site to identify unmet operational needs and rapidly turn them into robust product features.
- Enterprise System Integration: Deploy, integrate, and harden applications within sensitive government IT environments, including enterprise data platforms, Identity and Access Management (IdAM), SIEM tools, and cross-domain solutions.
- End-to-End Feature Ownership: Own development lifecycles from architecture and prototyping through field testing, user acceptance, and continuous operational support.
- Field Deployments: Travel up to 40–50% to operational test beds and customer installations across primary defense hubs.
Mandatory Qualifications
- Active Security Clearance: Current, active US Security Clearance (TS/SCI strongly preferred; candidates holding an active Secret clearance may be considered). Clearances in process cannot be accepted.
- US Personhood: Must qualify as a US Person under federal export regulations without sponsorship.
- Experience: 4 to 10 years of professional software engineering experience as a full-stack or product-focused individual contributor.
- Government / Defense Exposure: Demonstrated track record building, testing, or deploying software tailored to US government, defense, or national security missions.
- Modern Full-Stack Capabilities: Hands-on proficiency with modern web frontends (React) paired with relational and key-value datastores (PostgreSQL, Redis) and object storage (S3).
- Integration Expertise: Practical experience integrating software with government enterprise infrastructure (IdAM, SIEM, data platforms, or secure enclaves).
- Communication & Stakeholder Presence: Exceptional interpersonal and technical communication skills with direct experience collaborating with non-technical stakeholders and military/civilian operators.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent practical technical foundation).
- Mobility: Willingness and ability to travel 40% to 50% domestically.
Preferred Qualifications
- Practical experience with DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF) or deploying to AWS GovCloud / secure cloud enclaves.
- Balanced full-stack proficiency with particular strength in frontend architecture and user workflow design.
- Hands-on exposure to agentic AI workflows, LLM application development, or large-scale data retrieval pipelines.
Benefits
- Incentive Equity: Meaningful equity grant in a well-capitalized, profitable enterprise.
- Health, Dental & Vision: Full coverage included.
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Flexible PTO
- Comprehensive Travel Coverage
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this role truly remote or is on-site presence required?
What security clearance is required, and can I apply if mine is in process?
What is the total compensation for this role?
Do I need prior defense or government experience?
Is visa sponsorship available for this position?
