This listing pays about $200,000 a year. Across 103 open forward deployed engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $160,000 to $215,000 and the median is $195,000. That is inside the middle half of those listings, 3% above the median.

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About the job

About Rune

Rune Technologies builds mission-critical software for military logistics and sustainment. Our flagship product is TyrOS, an AI-enabled logistics command and control platform that gives commanders a single, real-time operating picture of their sustainment fight, from inventory and distribution to medical and operational planning, even in degraded and contested environments.

We're not a traditional defense contractor. We're a small, fast-moving team that combines deep operational experience in and with the DoD with the software discipline of the best product companies, and we apply that combination to a customer set that desperately needs it. We stay close to our users by embedding directly with military units during exercises and rotations, and we ship constantly based on what we learn.

The U.S. military and its allies face a real logistics modernization problem. We're building the software to solve it.

About the Role

We are seeking Forward Deployed Software Engineers to join our expanding team in the Austin area. In this role, you’ll take on a diverse set of challenges spanning full-stack development, networking, systems integration, and user-focused problem solving—always balancing speed, scalability, and sound engineering judgment. You’ll collaborate closely with Product Engineering and Design, while working hand-in-hand with our Mission Success team to deliver end-to-end solutions that empower military logisticians. Our engineers thrive on ownership and accountability, approaching every project with a practical, execution-oriented mindset. You’ll work in small teams with minimal supervision and own end-to-end execution of high-stakes projects for our military customers. The right candidate will consistently deliver reliable, timely, and high-quality outcomes while keeping our mission at the forefront of decision-making.

What You’ll Do

- Work side-by-side with end users and stakeholders to understand their toughest challenges, then design and deliver software solutions that directly address those needs.

- Take full ownership of features from concept to deployment, including prototyping, integrating with existing systems, and ensuring performance in demanding real-world environments.

- Collaborate across engineering, product, design, and operations teams to build scalable systems, prioritize work, and drive complex projects to completion.

- Continuously monitor and improve system reliability and performance by instrumenting code, analyzing metrics, diagnosing issues, and iterating on fixes.

- Balance short-term urgency with long-term maintainability—making thoughtful trade-offs that keep solutions practical, effective, and mission-focused.

- Travel roughly ~25% to deploy, field-test, and support software systems, gathering feedback directly from users to ensure success in operational settings.

Qualifications

- Strong coding skills with demonstrated proficiency in programming languages such as Go, C++, TypeScript/JavaScript, or similar.

- High ownership mindset; we’re looking for a motivated individual who is biased to action and to assume responsibility for all aspects of the development and deployment of our software for a specific military customer.

- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in teams of technical and non-technical individuals, and comfortable working in a rapidly changing environment with dynamic objectives and iteration with users.

- Strong communication abilities, with an interest and aptitude to lead customer-facing engineering interactions.

- Active U.S. secret security clearance required; top secret preferred.

Desired Qualifications

- Experience working on software in defense, aerospace, or other complex operational domains.

- Familiarity with logistics, supply chain, or sustainment challenges — especially in military contexts.

- Experience deploying software to production environments and managing cloud infrastructure (e.g. AWS, Kubernetes) as well as Edge infrastructure.

- Exposure to data engineering, analytics, or machine learning in operational contexts.

Benefits

Rune offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees to include a full suite of insurance options at no cost for employees and low-cost to spouses and dependents. Highly competitive equity grants are also included in the majority of full time offers and are considered part of Rune's total compensation package. Benefits include:

- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans; premiums 100% covered by Rune for all employees; exceptionally low premiums for spouses and dependents

- Basic life insurance and disability 100% covered for all employees by Rune; option to purchase additional life insurance available

- ‘Take the time off that you need, when you need it’ paid time off, not accrual based

- Generous company holiday calendar including a holiday shutdown in December

- Supportive leave of absence program including time off for military service, medical events, and parental leave

- Full 401(k) retirement plan for all full-time eligible employees

- Company-funded commuter benefits

- Free access to on-site gym at office