Forward deployed engineers for defence and aerospace
Industries / Defence and aerospace
Defence contractors and aerospace manufacturers work under export controls and cybersecurity certification. Forward deployed engineers for defence know those limits and get one system live inside them. You tell us who you need, and we send people who fit.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
Why defence teams use FDEs
Who can see the data decides who can build
In defence work, the first question is not which model to use. It is whether the engineer may see the technical data. Then whether the environment is in scope for CMMC. Then whether your security officer accepts every model provider in the path.
We look for people who meet the access rules you set. They work inside your enclave or approved environment, with your programme engineers. They build systems that keep controlled data where it belongs.
Tell us the role and the hours. We send you a shortlist of people who fit.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
What FDEs fix
Defence and aerospace work an FDE can own
- Engineering document search Search over specifications, drawing metadata, test reports and standards inside your controlled environment, with citations back to the source document.
- Proposal and compliance matrices Pulling requirements out of solicitations into compliance matrices. Drafting first responses for capture teams to edit.
- Supply chain and quality data Joining supplier, nonconformance and maintenance records, so quality engineers find patterns faster.
- On-premise and air-gapped deployment Running open-weight models and search on your own hardware when no external API is acceptable. Monitoring your security team can audit.
Hiring forward deployed engineers for defence
- 01
Start with access
Your requirement starts with access, not features. Data classification, export control status, CMMC scope and whether the work must be on site. Then the system and the programme owner who signs it off.
- 02
We read it ourselves
We read every requirement ourselves and ask if something is unclear. We look through the senior people who have applied to us, and our own contacts, for people who meet your citizenship, clearance or on-site rules.
- 03
A shortlist against your rules
Each person comes with a CV and a short note on why they fit your access rules.
- 04
You choose
Choose who to hire, or no one. You pay only when someone starts, on one agreement and one invoice agreed in writing.
Defence rules to plan around
| Rule | What it means for the build |
|---|---|
| CMMC Program rule | Now in effect. It defines CMMC levels and assessments for contractors handling Federal Contract Information or Controlled Unclassified Information. |
| CMMC acquisition rule (DFARS) | Now in effect, phasing CMMC requirements into DoD solicitations and contracts. New systems that touch CUI must sit inside your assessed boundary. |
| ITAR technical data | Releasing ITAR technical data to a foreign person, even inside the US, counts as an export. This decides who can work on the system and which hosted models you can use. |
| Model hosting | Many programmes rule out public model APIs entirely. Expect open-weight models running on approved infrastructure. |
Hiring in-house vs a forward deployed engineer
Permanent cleared hire
- Right for long programmes and sustained teams
- Cleared engineers with modern AI skills are scarce
- Long lead times for recruiting and onboarding
- Headcount sits on the programme after the build
Forward deployed engineer
- Shortlisted against your access rules
- Focused on one system, with your programme owner
- Leaves handover docs inside your environment
- You pay our fee only when they start
For companies
Tell us who you need.
Send your requirement. It is free and there is no deposit. We read it ourselves and send you a shortlist of people who fit. You pay only when someone starts.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
Fees, how it works and related industries
Tell us what you need.
Send your requirement. We send you a shortlist of senior leaders who fit. One agreement and one invoice, with the terms agreed in writing before anything starts.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
Send your requirement
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
Apply to join
Talent never pays to apply, be shortlisted or be placed.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Can you find US persons?
Put it in your requirement, and we look for people who meet it. We do not hold clearances as a company.
Can the work happen fully on site?
Yes, where the programme needs it. Put location and travel in your requirement, and we look for people who can do it.
Can we hire through a prime contractor?
Tell us how your contract is set up in your requirement. Flow-down clauses, including CMMC, need to be clear before anything starts. You get one agreement and one invoice from us, on terms agreed in writing.
Is this only for prime contractors?
No. Lower-tier suppliers and aerospace manufacturers with commercial and defence lines fit too.
Explore more
- How it works
What happens after you send your requirement, step by step.
- Fees
No deposit. One agreement and one invoice when someone starts.
- What is fractional
Senior leaders for part of the week, and when that makes sense.
- Locations
Talent based across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
How it works
Fees
What is fractional
Locations