Scale Engineer

Field Engineer, Public Sector

Solutions Engineer · Mid · Full Time · Remote

Remote · RemoteUSD 130k – 180k1w ago
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Role

What you'll do.

Field Engineer at Cursor, the leading AI-powered coding tool for professional developers, focused on driving adoption across the Public Sector. This technical customer-facing role bridges Sales, Product, and Engineering to enable federal civilian and defense agencies to evaluate and implement Cursor's agentic coding capabilities. You'll serve as a trusted technical advisor, leading proofs of concept, demonstrating enterprise-grade features in secure environments, and influencing product strategy through deep customer insights.

Responsibilities

  • Technical Discovery and Deal Ownership: Partner with Account Executives to lead technical discovery, design and execute proofs of concept, and conduct technical validation for new customer deals and expansion opportunities. Own the technical qualification process from discovery through contract signature.
  • Multi-Stakeholder Relationship Building: Develop and maintain trusted relationships across diverse customer stakeholders including engineering leaders, architects, developers, security teams, IT operations, procurement, and program leads. Navigate complex organizational structures and competing priorities in federal agencies.
  • Secure Environment Expertise: Develop deep expertise in mission-critical and high-security environments including classified networks, air-gapped systems, FedRAMP-compliant infrastructure, developer workflows, and AI tooling deployment in constrained setups. Understand federal security compliance requirements including FISMA, NIST, and Defense Information Systems Agency standards.
  • Business Value Translation: Connect Cursor's technical capabilities to measurable customer outcomes including developer productivity metrics, secure software delivery processes, mission velocity improvements, and software modernization ROI. Communicate impact to both technical and executive audiences.
  • Technical Presentations and Enablement: Deliver compelling technical demonstrations, whiteboard sessions, architecture workshops, and executive briefings tailored to federal government audiences. Create customized use case scenarios demonstrating how Cursor accelerates software delivery in compliance-heavy environments.
  • Internal Customer Advocacy: Act as the voice of the customer internally, providing product feedback, feature prioritization insights, and deployment challenges to the Product and Engineering teams. Influence product roadmap decisions based on public sector requirements and federal agency needs.
  • Successful Customer Handoff: Coordinate seamlessly with post-sales and customer success teams to ensure smooth transition from sales cycle to implementation. Develop customer onboarding plans, document technical requirements, and establish success metrics for the ongoing engagement.

Qualifications

What we look for.

Technical

  • Software Development Lifecycle Expertise

    Deep understanding of SDLC processes, software engineering practices, and how development tools integrate into existing workflows. Ability to discuss architectural patterns, deployment strategies, and software modernization approaches with technical teams.

  • AI and Developer Tooling Knowledge

    Hands-on familiarity with AI-powered development tools, code generation, agentic systems, and their integration into developer environments. Understanding of how AI augments developer productivity and impacts software delivery velocity.

  • Federal Compliance and Security

    Working knowledge of federal compliance frameworks including FISMA, NIST SP 800 series, FedRAMP authorization levels, Defense Information Systems Agency requirements, and security assessment processes. Understanding of how security constraints impact software development and deployment.

  • Technical Architecture and Design

    Ability to discuss system architecture, integration patterns, API design, infrastructure constraints, and technical solution design. Capability to evaluate Cursor's capabilities against specific technical and operational requirements.

Education

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Related Field

    Formal education in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or equivalent field providing foundational technical knowledge. Equivalent professional experience in engineering or technical roles may substitute.

  • Security Clearance Eligibility

    Ability to obtain or maintain a U.S. federal security clearance (Secret level minimum). Existing active clearance at Secret, Top Secret, or Top Secret/SCI levels is a significant advantage and may expedite hiring and project assignments.

Experience

  • Field Engineering or Solutions Architecture

    2-4 years of experience in field engineering, solutions architecture, pre-sales engineering, or technical consulting roles. Demonstrated success closing technical evaluations and influencing purchase decisions.

  • Federal or Defense Sector Experience

    Background working with federal civilian agencies, Department of Defense, intelligence community, or highly regulated enterprise customers. Understanding of federal government procurement processes, contracting vehicles (GSA Schedule, IDIQ, etc.), and agency decision-making structures.

  • Enterprise Software Sales Enablement

    Experience as a technical deal partner working alongside Account Executives in complex B2B enterprise sales cycles. Track record of managing multi-stakeholder customer evaluations and navigating competitive procurement processes.

  • Developer-Focused Technology Expertise

    Background in developer tools, infrastructure software, platform engineering, or developer experience optimization. Hands-on experience working with engineering teams and architects on technology evaluation and implementation.

Skills

Required

  • Executive Communication and Presentation

    Ability to present complex technical concepts clearly to C-level executives (CTOs, CISOs, program leaders) and adapt messaging for non-technical stakeholders. Strong verbal and written communication with executive presence and credibility.

  • Technical Depth in Software Development

    Hands-on familiarity with software development practices, code workflows, development environments, and engineering methodologies. Ability to discuss architecture, deployment, and technical challenges from an engineer's perspective.

  • Deal Management and Strategic Thinking

    Ability to identify customer technical requirements, scope solutions strategically, navigate stakeholder politics, and work as a true deal partner with Sales teams. Understanding of sales cycles, contract negotiations, and customer buying criteria.

  • Relationship Building and Influence

    Demonstrated ability to build trust across diverse technical and non-technical audiences, navigate complex organizational structures, and influence decisions through technical credibility and business acumen.

  • Technical Problem Solving

    Ability to diagnose complex technical challenges in constrained or secure environments, develop creative solutions, and communicate workarounds to non-technical stakeholders. Hands-on troubleshooting experience with infrastructure and deployment issues.

  • Federal Procurement and Compliance Knowledge

    Understanding of federal government buying cycles, security assessment processes, compliance requirements, and contractor ecosystems. Familiarity with GSA Schedules, IDIQ contracts, and federal IT acquisition practices.

Preferred

  • Federal Security Clearance

    Nice to have

    Active U.S. security clearance at Secret level or higher. Clearance portability and ability to work in classified environments significantly strengthens candidacy for Public Sector roles.

  • Developer Tools or IDE Experience

    Nice to have

    Direct hands-on experience with code editors, IDEs, terminal tools, or developer infrastructure platforms. Experience evaluating and deploying developer tools at scale within organizations.

  • Agentic AI Systems Knowledge

    Nice to have

    Familiarity with AI agents, large language models in software development contexts, AI-assisted coding, or autonomous systems. Understanding of how agentic systems differ from traditional automation and their applications in enterprise workflows.

  • Defense or Intelligence Community Background

    Nice to have

    Work experience within Department of Defense, National Security Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency, or intelligence agencies. Understanding of mission-critical systems, air-gapped networks, and high-security development environments.

  • SaaS to Enterprise Platform Experience

    Nice to have

    Background selling or implementing developer-focused SaaS tools to enterprise customers. Experience with licensing models, deployment options, and integration complexity in large organizations.

  • Proof of Concept Leadership

    Nice to have

    Track record of designing, running, and concluding successful technical proofs of concept that drive purchase decisions. Experience instrumenting POCs to demonstrate measurable business value.

Tech stack

Languages

PythonJavaC/C++

Frameworks

Spring FrameworkReact/Vue.jsCI/CD Pipelines and DevOps Platforms

Databases

SQL ServerPostgreSQLOracle Database

Tools

Git and Version Control SystemsFederal Compliance and Security ToolsCollaboration and Communication Platforms

Other

AI-Powered Development ToolsFederal Security FrameworksMission-Critical System Architecture

Compensation

Pay and benefits.

Base·USD 130,000 – 180,000

Equity·Stock options

Benefits

  • Equity Participation

    Stock option grants as part of compensation package, providing upside participation in Cursor's growth as an AI-powered developer tools company. Equity structure aligned with early-stage hypergrowth technology company standards.

  • Comprehensive Health Benefits

    Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees and families. Benefits designed to support health and wellness across physical, mental, and preventive care dimensions.

  • Professional Development and Learning

    Access to technical training, federal compliance certifications, security clearance sponsorship, and industry conference attendance. Budget for continuous learning in AI, software engineering, and federal technology landscapes.

  • Flexible Work Arrangement

    Remote-first or flexible work environment accommodating travel for customer sites and government facility visits. Collaboration tools and infrastructure supporting distributed teams working with federal agencies.

  • Competitive Time Off

    Generous paid time off, sick leave, and holiday schedule. Flexibility to manage work-life balance while maintaining customer commitments across government agencies.

Process

Interview steps.

  1. 01

    Recruiter Screening Call

    Initial 30-minute conversation with Cursor's recruiting team to discuss background, motivation for the Field Engineer role, and public sector experience. Screening for cultural fit, communication clarity, and baseline technical familiarity. Expectation: Be prepared to discuss previous field engineering, sales engineering, or consulting engagements and your understanding of federal government buying processes.

  2. 02

    Technical Assessment and Conversation

    Technical discussion with a current Field Engineer or Solutions Architect focused on software development workflows, AI tooling, and how you've previously navigated complex technical evaluations. May include discussion of a realistic scenario: How would you approach evaluating Cursor for an Air Force software modernization program? This evaluates your ability to translate product capabilities to customer business outcomes.

  3. 03

    Deal Partner Simulation

    Interactive exercise with a sales leader or product manager simulating a customer discovery call for a mock government agency. You'll present Cursor's capabilities, ask discovery questions, and handle customer objections. This assesses your communication clarity, consultative approach, ability to think strategically about customer needs, and deal partnership instincts.

  4. 04

    Customer Reference Call

    Conversation with a Cursor customer or trusted partner who has gone through similar government procurement processes. The company will connect you with someone who can speak authentically to the role requirements, team culture, and real-world challenges in the public sector space. This is an opportunity to learn directly from practitioners.

  5. 05

    Leadership Interview

    Final conversation with a Director or VP of Sales, Product, or Customer Success. Discussion focuses on strategic thinking, long-term vision for public sector adoption, how you'd influence product direction based on customer feedback, and alignment with Cursor's mission to automate coding. Questions will explore your career ambitions, leadership philosophy, and ability to grow into an expanded role as the team scales.

Full posting

Original listing.

Our mission is to automate coding. The first step in our journey is to build the best tool for professional programmers, using a combination of inventive research, design, and engineering. Our organization is very flat, and our team is small and talent dense. We particularly like people who are truth-seeking, passionate, and creative. We enjoy spirited debate, crazy ideas, and shipping code.

About the Role

We're hiring Field Engineers to partner with prospective and strategic customers across Public Sector. You'll be the technical face of Cursor for the federal civilian and defense agencies modernizing how software gets written for the mission: helping developers, engineering leaders, and program teams evaluate Cursor, running proofs of concept, and making sure they see the full value of agentic coding in their real workflows.

You'll work hand-in-hand with Sales, Product, and Engineering as a deal partner, not a demo resource. You'll scope solutions, demonstrate capabilities, and act as a trusted advisor across the stakeholders that matter in PubSec: engineering leaders, architects, developers, security, procurement, and program leads. This is a highly customer-facing role where deep technical fluency, commercial instinct, and clear communication drive adoption and influence product direction.

What you'll do

  • Partner with AEs to own technical discovery, demos, POCs, and technical validation for new deals and expansion

  • Build trusted relationships across engineering, security, product and IT stakeholders

  • Go deep in mission-critical and high-security environments: developer workflows, AI tooling, complex / constrained setups

  • Help customers connect Cursor to outcomes that matter: developer productivity, secure software delivery, and mission velocity

  • Deliver technical presentations, whiteboards, and workshops for technical and executive audiences

  • Act as the customer's technical advocate internally with Product and Engineering

  • Partner with post-sales to hand off cleanly and set up onboarding for success

You may be a fit if

  • You have strong communication skills and executive presence, equally comfortable developing alongside engineers or presenting to CTOs, CISOs, and program leaders

  • You understand the SDLC and can connect technical detail to mission and operational impact

  • You have hands-on technical fluency (not full-time eng): workflows, AI tooling, complex / constrained environments

  • You have deal-partner strategic instincts: co-own with AEs and navigate complex, multi-threaded stakeholder maps

  • You have experience in Field Engineering, Solutions Architecture, Pre-Sales, or Consulting, ideally in federal, defense, or highly regulated tech

  • You're excited by Public Sector and comfortable learning agency buying motions, security expectations, and partner ecosystems fast

  • You hold or can obtain a federal security clearance (active clearance is a plus)

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