As a
Software Engineer on the Mission Dev team, you will operate at the intersection of software engineering, customer deployment, and mission-critical federal programs. You are not just shipping code - you are embedding with customers, deploying software into high-stakes environments, and owning outcomes from first integration to long-term success. You will bridge Nominal's platform with real-world federal applications across the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA, and other U.S. government agencies.
This is a hybrid of software engineer, forward-deployed engineer, and technical program lead. You will write production-grade code, design integrations, manage deployments on government networks, and serve as a trusted technical advisor to mission operators. If you think like a startup founder, thrive in ambiguity, and want to see your code powering rocket test stands, autonomy labs, and mission-critical defense programs, Nominal is the place to do it.
About the roleMission Dev is one of the most unique roles at Nominal. You'll write production-grade code, embed with federal customers on-site, and own the bridge between what our platform offers today and what a government program needs to succeed.
That might mean deploying Nominal onto a classified network for a Navy flight test squadron, building a custom telemetry pipeline for a DoD autonomy program, or standing up integrations at a NASA test facility, then watching an engineer use what you shipped yesterday and iterating on the spot. You'll work inside the constraints that come with federal environments: accreditation processes, air-gapped networks, strict cybersecurity requirements, and government acquisition timelines. The role requires someone who can deliver high-quality software without losing velocity in these environments.
Mission Devs are brought in when there's a specific technical gap to bridge. You might get looped in during pre-sales to integrate a program's data and demonstrate how Nominal fits their mission workflows, or you might be building program-specific tooling mid-deployment that evolves into a permanent product capability. The work you do for one program often becomes a core product used across our entire customer base - our video-alongside-telemetry capability, for example, started as a single customer need and is now a platform-wide feature. The "last 10%" looks different for every mission, and that's what makes the work compelling.
What we're looking for- 5+ years of experience in software engineering, forward-deployed engineering, or a technical role that combined building with customer-facing work.
- Experience working with or inside U.S. federal agencies, particularly DoD, and with deploying software on U.S. government networks.
- Track record of shipping production software in dynamic or ambiguous environments.
- Strong systems thinking - you can understand complex technical ecosystems end-to-end.
- Clear communicator, comfortable writing technical documentation and presenting to executive stakeholders.
- Willingness to travel up to 50%.
- Curiosity about hardware systems and willingness to learn the physical domains our customers operate in.
- Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance. Active clearance is a strong plus.
Why Nominal- Mission-critical impact with top-tier federal and commercial customers
- Backed by world-class investors
- Work alongside elite engineers from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, and more
- Build and deploy real systems powering rockets, aircraft, autonomous systems, and national security infrastructure
At Nominal, your code doesn't sit in a demo environment - it powers real missions.
Benefits/Perks- 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Unlimited PTO and sick leave
- Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
- Professional Development Stipend
- In-office hardware lab with a $250 project stipend
- Annual company retreat
CompensationThe base pay range for this role is $150,000 - $215,000 per year.
