Forward Deployment Software Engineer

Snowflake3 days ago

Location

Fins Only-US-VA-Reston-CrunchyData

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 200,000 – 287,500

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Mar 11, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Snowflake is seeking a Forward Deployment Software Engineer to lead cloud infrastructure deployment and maintenance for public sector clients, requiring TS/SCI clearance. The role involves designing scalable distributed systems, working directly with government customers, and ensuring security compliance in sensitive environments. Candidates need 7+ years of distributed systems experience with expertise in cloud platforms, containerization, and infrastructure-as-code tools.

What you'll do

Large-Scale Problem Solving: Solve real business needs at enterprise scale by applying software engineering and analytical problem-solving skills

Distributed Systems Design: Design, implement and maintain scalable distributed systems for cloud automation platform including control plane and Kubernetes

Customer Collaboration: Work directly with government and public sector customers to understand critical problems and implement solutions

Production Environment Management: Deploy and maintain cloud compute servers and Kubernetes clusters in sensitive, air-gapped production environments

CI/CD Implementation: Implement software delivery pipelines supporting continuous delivery and automatic compliance in sensitive environments

Operational Excellence: Ensure operational readiness of services and meet customer commitments for security, reliability, availability, and performance

Cross-team Collaboration: Collaborate with product teams on requirements and SLOs for deploying software into air-gapped environments

System Troubleshooting: Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve complex network and systems issues in production environments

AI-Driven Automation: Leverage AI-driven tooling to automate operational tasks and improve system efficiency

What we look for

Technical

Distributed Systems Experience7+ years designing and supporting large-scale distributed systems in production environments

Container OrchestrationIn-depth experience with Kubernetes and container orchestration platforms

Cloud InfrastructureDeep knowledge of cloud infrastructure and Infrastructure-as-Code tools like Terraform or Pulumi

Programming LanguagesAdvanced development skills in Java, C++, Golang, or Python

Cloud PlatformsHands-on experience with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform

Computer Science FundamentalsStrong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and distributed systems principles

Database SystemsExperience with database systems and database internals (preferred)

Public Sector ExperienceRecent experience deploying solutions at public sector customers

Education

Advanced DegreeAdvanced degree in Computer Science or related technical field (preferred)

Technical FoundationStrong academic background in computer science, software engineering, or equivalent field

Experience

Security ClearanceActive TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph required, with willingness to maintain clearance

U.S. CitizenshipU.S. citizenship required due to federal law and government contract restrictions

Government ComplianceMust meet all applicable customer and government security screening requirements

Production Systems7+ years of production experience with large-scale distributed systems

Public Sector FocusExperience working with government agencies and public sector organizations

Skills

Required skills

Distributed Systems ArchitectureExpert-level knowledge of designing and implementing large-scale distributed systems

Cloud Infrastructure ManagementAdvanced skills in managing cloud infrastructure across AWS, Azure, or GCP

Kubernetes OrchestrationDeep expertise in Kubernetes container orchestration and cloud-native applications

Infrastructure as CodeProficiency with Terraform, Pulumi, or similar IaC tools for automated provisioning

System ProgrammingAdvanced programming skills in Java, Python, Golang, or C++ for system development

Security ComplianceUnderstanding of government security requirements and compliance frameworks

Network EngineeringStrong networking skills for troubleshooting and designing secure network architectures

CI/CD Pipeline DevelopmentExperience building automated deployment pipelines for sensitive environments

Nice to have

Database InternalsKnowledge of database systems architecture and internal mechanisms

AI/ML OperationsExperience with AI-driven automation tools and machine learning operations

Air-gapped DeploymentsSpecialized knowledge of deploying systems in isolated, high-security environments

Government Sector ExperiencePrevious work experience with federal agencies and government contractors

Advanced DegreeMaster's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field

Multi-cloud ExpertiseExperience working across multiple cloud platforms and hybrid cloud architectures

Performance OptimizationSkills in system performance tuning and optimization for large-scale applications

Incident ResponseExperience with incident management and rapid problem resolution in production systems

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 200,000 – 287,500 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive coverage options

Equity Participation

Stock options and equity participation in Snowflake's growth as a publicly traded company

Professional Development

Learning and development opportunities including conference attendance and certification support

Security Clearance Support

Company support for obtaining and maintaining required security clearances

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid work model with flexibility between remote and office work

Retirement Planning

401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching contributions

Time Off Benefits

Generous PTO policy and paid holidays for work-life balance

Innovation Culture

Access to cutting-edge cloud technology and opportunity to work on industry-leading data platform

Interview process

1
Security Clearance Verification — Initial verification of active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph and U.S. citizenship documentation
2
Technical Recruiter Screen — 30-minute phone conversation covering background, experience with distributed systems, and role alignment
3
Hiring Manager Interview — 45-minute discussion focused on public sector experience, cloud infrastructure, and customer collaboration
4
Technical Deep Dive — 90-minute technical interview covering distributed systems design, cloud architecture, and problem-solving scenarios
5
System Design Interview — 60-minute whiteboard session designing scalable infrastructure for air-gapped government environments
6
Coding Assessment — Live coding session in preferred language (Java/Python/Go) focusing on algorithms and system programming
7
Customer Scenario Interview — 45-minute behavioral interview with scenarios about working directly with government customers and compliance requirements
8
Final Panel Interview — 60-minute panel with senior engineers and product managers covering culture fit and long-term vision
9
Reference and Background Check — Comprehensive background verification process including professional references and security screening