Forward Deployed Engineer - Chicago

Forward Deployed EngineerAs our first Forward Deployed Engineer, you will be the technical point of contact for customers in the field—owning integrations, onsite deployment work, and the translation of real-world operational needs into robust, scalable technical solutions. You'll work hands-on with customer systems, troubleshoot complex environments, and rapidly prototype tools and integrations needed to make Realm successful in mission-critical settings.This role is deeply technical and field-oriented—focused on making the product work seamlessly in demanding industrial and government environments. You'll embed with users, uncover operational realities, validate technical assumptions, and ensure our technology performs reliably under real-world constraints. This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys building in messy environments, thrives on customer interaction, and takes pride in shipping solutions that matter.Must-Have Qualifications2+ years of software engineering or forward deployed / mission operations experience, with a record of shipping impactful workStrong technical fluency and the ability to work closely with engineers—comfortable reading, writing, and debugging code enough to build prototypesLow ego, high EQ, and exceptional collaborative instincts—able to build trust inside Realm and with external partnersExperience working directly with enterprise, industrial, government, defense, or security-critical productsStrong coding skills, problem-solving ability, and grasp of computer science fundamentalsMastery of core development/infrastructure/DevOps tools (Git, Linux)Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional problem solving, influence technical teams, and drive projects from inception to deliveryAbility to thrive in ambiguous environments—strong prioritization, structured thinking, and comfort balancing long-term vision with immediate needsExcellent written and verbal communication skills, able to simplify complexity for a wide range of stakeholdersStrong data instincts—comfortable analyzing data, forming hypotheses, and making data-informed decisionsHands-on prototyping and AI-assisted coding skills; comfortable hacking together real solutions quickly to test ideasMove fast, can tackle ambiguous problems, and sweat the detailsBased in US - citizen (preferred) or permanent residentNice-to-Have QualificationsExperience working on-site with customers in field or operational environmentsBackground deploying software to industrial or government settings, with an understanding of constraints like safety, latency, offline ops, or complianceFamiliarity with mobile or web applications, cloud infrastructure, IoT/industrial systems, or real-time data pipelinesExperience navigating sensitive or mission-critical customer environmentsExpertise around mining, industrial safety regulations, etc.Why Realm?Work on mission-critical problems at the intersection of AI, security, and global infrastructureShape the brand and product of a category-defining company from the ground upHigh-ownership, high-impact role with direct influence on company growthCompetitive compensation with significant equity upsideDynamic, remote work environment with global reachBenefits/PerksFull medical, dental, and vision benefitsUnlimited PTO401(k) with 4% safe-harbor matchEquity in an early-stage, fast-growing companyHome office allowance