About Ditto:
Ditto is redefining how data moves at the edge. Our mission is to make it seamless for developers to build resilient, real-time applications, regardless of network conditions. Whether you're in a stadium, airplane, or remote military base, Ditto's peer-to-peer sync engine ensures devices stay connected and data stays consistent, even without internet. With more than $145 million in funding and trusted by organizations like Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, and the U.S. military, Ditto powers mission-critical experiences across aviation, retail, travel, hospitality, defense, and more. As a globally distributed, fast-growing startup, we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the wide range of perspectives needed to solve the world’s hardest connectivity problems.
As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you are the technical tip of the spear. FDEs are elite, versatile engineers who work shoulder-to-shoulder with our most critical users to solve complex challenges in real time. Your primary mission is to radically decrease the time-to-value of our software by integrating it directly into the user's operational environment.
Because you see firsthand how our technology performs in the wild, you will also act as a crucial conduit, feeding technical insights and feature requirements back to our core product engineering team. This role requires a highly adaptable problem-solver who is comfortable moving fast, navigating ambiguity, and figuring things out quickly in high-stakes environments.
Architect End-to-End System Integrations: Design and implement the full integration stack that connects our software to the SOCOM operational ecosystem, including TAK (Team Awareness Kit) servers, tactical datalinks, and mission command systems.
Implement Cursor-on-Target (CoT) Pipelines: Build, deploy, and maintain robust CoT event ingestion and dissemination pipelines that enable real-time situational awareness across disparate systems and classification levels.
Design Datalink and System Interfaces: Engineer software adapters and translation layers that bridge our platform with legacy and modern datalink protocols, ensuring bidirectional interoperability with the broader C2 architecture.
Solve Problems in Real-Time: Act as the first line of technical defense at SOCOM sites, rapidly diagnosing and resolving integration failures, data flow interruptions, and system interoperability issues as they arise.
Bridge the Gap: Translate the unique, edge-case operational realities you observe (e.g., non-standard TAK configurations, datalink format variations, multi-vendor system conflicts) into actionable technical requirements and system design proposals for the core product development team.
Clearance Requirement: Must hold an active Secret clearance (Due to federal security clearance requirements, U.S. Citizenship is strictly required for this role).
5+ years of experience in systems integration engineering, software engineering, or technical program execution. This includes hands-on experience integrating software with military C2 systems, sensor platforms, or tactical communications systems.
2+ years of technical experience with Cursor-on-Target (CoT) message formats and TAK ecosystem tools (TAK Server, ATAK, WinTAK), including standing up servers, configuring data feeds, and debugging message flows.
Demonstrated experience with system design for complex, multi-vendor integration environments. You should be able to whiteboard a full data flow from a sensor to a display, identify integration seams, and propose solutions across protocol and format boundaries.
A highly adaptable, problem-solving mindset, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, move fast, and balance immediate operational fixes with long-term technical fidelity.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. As the crucial bridge between the operational edge and our core development team, you must be able to translate complex, edge-case technical realities and user workflows into clear, actionable requirements for product engineers.
Experience with tactical datalink protocols beyond CoT, including Link 16, VMF, or JREAP, and an understanding of how these datalinks feed into the broader joint C2 picture.
Familiarity with SOF-specific mission command systems and the unique integration requirements of SOCOM's distributed operational architecture.
Experience with API design and middleware development for connecting heterogeneous military systems (e.g., ESBs, message brokers, protocol translation gateways).
Prior experience with edge computing architectures, including deploying integration logic on resource-constrained hardware at the tactical edge.
Previous experience working directly with SOCOM, JSOC, or Component Command customers, with an understanding of how operational workflows drive integration requirements.
Familiarity with lightweight container orchestration (e.g., K3s, Docker Compose) for packaging and deploying integration services in austere environments.
A background in software development (e.g., Python, Go, Java, or C++) with the ability to write custom parsers, adapters, and integration glue code.
Location: Tampa, FL / Ft. Liberty, NC (On-site required)
Clearance: Secret
We offer competitive salaries and meaningful equity. We believe everyone on the team should have a stake in what we’re building. Benefits vary by region to make sure you're covered in the ways that matter most. In the US, that includes health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, plus a 401(k) and flexible spending accounts.
Regardless of where you live, everyone at Ditto can utilize flexible time off. And while we work remotely, our Atlanta and San Francisco offices are open if you ever want a place to work or meet up with teammates.
At Ditto, we know game-changers don’t always come wrapped in a “perfect” resume. Years of experience? Every single bullet point checked? Meh. That’s not what drives us.
What does matter?
Grit.
Curiosity.
Adaptability.
And a genuine spark for what we’re building.
So if you’re fired up about our mission but not sure you tick every box - hit that apply button anyway. Use your application to show us how you’ll make an impact here.
We’re always on the lookout for exceptional humans who want to grow, stretch, and build something meaningful with us.
Ditto is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Ditto is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please let us know.