Skip to main content
David Careers

Forward Deployed Engineer

Posted 14 days ago

groundswellBethesda (MD)
Software DevelopersCustom Computer Programming Services

SENIORITY

Lead

SALARY

$130,000 - $160,000

Apply (opens in a new tab)

About the role

ABOUT THE POSITION Groundswell builds community power - cutting electricity bills for the neighbors who need savings most through community solar, resilience hubs, and home energy efficiency and repair. Gratava is the AI-enabled data platform underneath that work: a neutral coordination layer where a household proves eligibility once and that verified record unlocks every program they qualify for. Forward deployed means living with our users, customers, and partners. The Forward Deployed Engineer will sit with utility staff, program administrators, caseworkers and households to find what blocks or limits adoption and success - then build the prototypes that prove the solution works, validate it with the customer, and hand it off to production engineering. Customer contact and building are one job here. Reporting to the SVP, Data Platform, the Forward Deployed Engineer is a peer to the Tech Lead with distinct ownership: the Forward Deployed Engineer proves what should be built, and the Tech Lead is responsible for what ships in production. You will write production-quality code, and what you build is judged by whether it proves the answer rather than by whether it ships - deployment into production, and the policies and controls that go with it, stay with the Tech Lead.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: •Field discovery. Work directly with our internal teams and with utilities, program administrators, agencies and households to understand where systems, policies, and data break down in practice. You will investigate hard problems such as premise resolution, income verification, eligibility determination, program matching, and other rules that have not yet been defined. •Build the proof. Turn ambiguous problems into working software. Build new core functionality at the prototype level - the matching engine, the rules-as-logic layer, the AI agent layer - connected to real data sources and run against real records. Be responsible for both demonstrating an idea and building enough of it to prove whether it works and adds value. Prototype here means scope, not craft - you write code good enough to run in production, even though production deployment is determined by the Tech Lead.
  • Program rules into working logic. Translate complex heterogeneous program requirements into reliable, testable logic such as income thresholds, categorical eligibility, funding stack sequencing, pre-weatherization gating and other program specific conditions in ways that are explainable, auditable, and resilient.
  • Validate with the customer. Responsible for building prototypes and testing with the people who will use them. Before production engineering begins, establish three things: the data sources work as expected; the logic produces the correct outcomes, and the interface is simple enough for customers to understand and use.
  • Create a clean path to production. Deliver a working proof, the data connections, technical decisions behind it, and a clear specification that distinguishes what is essential from what is not. Give production engineering enough clarity to complete the work without having to discover the problem.
  • Scope the roadmap. Turn technical discovery into actionable products and engineering decisions. Provide fast, reliable feasibility assessments and effort estimates that leadership and engineering can use to make and commit to roadmap decisions.
  • Continual Development and Growth. Share what you know and learn with the broader engineering team. Partner closely with the Tech Lead to transfer agentic tooling practice and document knowledge that compounds across the team.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: As a member of the Groundswell team, the Forward Deployed Engineer is expected to participate in the overall execution of Groundswell programs, including support for program launches, partner engagements, and organization-wide initiatives as needs arise. OTHER DUTIES This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required. Duties, obligations, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. COMPETENCIES OR SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE
  • Writes production-ready code - able to work to production standards, and able to judge when a proof is good enough to stop.
  • Comfortable in the field with customers - builds fast, validates directly, and hands off cleanly.
  • Judgment about scope - knows what not to build while a customer is pushing, and can defend it to a non-technical stakeholder.
  • Comfort in regulated environments: consent, audit logging, role-based access, and data governance.
  • Able to work independently in an early-stage environment with limited scaffolding and shifting priorities. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY This position has no supervisory responsibility. WORK ENVIRONMENT This position is based in Washington, D.C. and is expected to work in-office four days per month in alignment with Groundswell’s hybrid/remote work plan. POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS This is a full-time, 40-hour-a-week position. The days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and core hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. TRAVEL Travel to program sites is expected roughly once a month, with heavier periods around new deployments. Occasional visits to Groundswell office locations may also be required. REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field - or equivalent practical experience. We weight demonstrated work over credentials.
  • Demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous, rules-heavy domain requirements into working logic.
  • Two to four years building with modern AI tools - Claude, OpenAI and equivalent agentic development tools as normal practice.
  • Salesforce and Slack experience.
  • Preferred: energy, housing, healthcare, public benefits or other rules-based program experience. SUPERVISION
The Forward Deployed Engineer will report to Groundswell’s Senior Vice President of Data Platform. COMPENSATION Compensation for this position is within the range of $130,000 - $160,000 consistent within Groundswell’s established pay band for this role. This is a full-time position, eligible for Groundswell’s comprehensive employee benefits package.
BENEFITS:
  • Groundswell pays 100% of the monthly premium for health, dental, vision, and long-term disability for full-time employees in accordance with Groundswell’s policy. Groundswell also covers 50% of spouses and dependents covered under the Groundswell healthcare, vision, and dental plan.
  • Matching 401 (k) plan contribution by Groundswell up to 4% for employees who choose to contribute to Groundswell’s 401 (k) plan, with immediate vesting.
  • Monthly Development Days to focus on professional development opportunities.
  • $45 per month to reimburse cellular phone use for business purposes.
  • $75 per month to reimburse home internet access for business purposes.
  • Fifteen (15) paid vacation days per year; eight (8) sick days; and two (2) personal days. Vacation and sick leave accrue at the start of your employment, restart each year on January 1, and increase with tenure. Personal days begin after six months of employment.
  • Groundswell also takes nine (9) paid federal holidays and a holiday break from December 24th to January 1st (inclusive).
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, and Voluntary Life available.
  • Pre-tax benefits such as Smart Benefits, Flexible spending accounts, and Dependent care are also available. For more information about the organization’s benefits and other personnel policies, Groundswell will provide a new hire orientation within the first week of employment.
HOW TO APPLY: Submit a resume and cover letter to
Groundswell is an equal opportunity employer deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusiveness.

Before you apply

Applying takes about a minute. These four things decide how fast it moves after that.

Your profile is current

It's what we read first. Occupations, seniority and locations matter more than a long history.

Two examples you can talk through

Not a portfolio — just two pieces of work where you can explain the decisions and what you'd change.

A number in mind

What you're on now and what would make you move. We negotiate better when we know both.

Your notice period

Employers plan around it, and it's the question that stalls offers most often.

Once you apply, someone reads it and calls you before anything reaches the employer — usually within two working days.

More like this