Senior Software Engineer, Systems FDE

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.

• Integrate with Military Avionics Data Buses:
  Lead the on‑site integration of our software with airborne and ground‑based platforms by engineering data ingest and translation layers for MIL‑STD‑1553 and ARINC 429 avionics buses.
• Implement Tactical Datalink Interfaces:
  Architect and deploy software interfaces to parse, transform, and route messages from tactical datalinks including Link 16 and Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL), ensuring reliable machine‑to‑machine interoperability in contested environments.
• Enable Cursor‑on‑Target (CoT) Data Flows:
  Build and maintain robust CoT event pipelines that bridge platform sensor data into the broader C5
  
  ISR ecosystem, ensuring operational relevance and low‑latency dissemination.
• Solve Problems in Real‑Time:
  Act as the first line of technical defense, rapidly diagnosing and resolving software, protocol, and integration issues as they arise on operational platforms.
• Bridge the Gap:
  Translate the unique, edge‑case operational realities you observe into actionable technical requirements for the core product development team.

• Clearance Requirement:
  Must hold an active TS/SCI clearance (U.S. citizenship is required).
• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, embedded systems engineering, or systems integration, including hands‑on experience writing software that interfaces directly with military or aerospace data buses and protocols.
• 2+ years of technical experience working with avionics bus standards such as MIL‑STD‑1553 and/or ARINC 429.
• Demonstrated experience with tactical datalink protocols (Link 16, SADL) and/or Cursor‑on‑Target (CoT) message formats.
• 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, to translate complex edge‑case technical realities into clear requirements for product engineers.

• Direct experience with C5
  
  ISR system‑of‑systems architectures.
• Experience with real‑time embedded operating systems and developing software under hard real‑time constraints.
• Familiarity with flight test or operational test environments.
• Experience with software‑defined radios (SDRs) or waveform development for tactical communications.
• Previous experience working directly with DoD platform program offices and understanding certification and accreditation processes for airborne software.
• Background in systems programming (C, C++, Rust) alongside standard scripting.

Conside…