Head of Forward Deployed Engineering

About the role

Cape is a privacy-first mobile carrier founded in 2022 by individuals committed to privacy as a fundamental right. We aim to provide secure and resilient communications for government agencies operating in contested environments. This role requires a proven track record in leading engineering teams and a strong understanding of federal security compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Architect and execute the technical vision for our federal engineering organization.
• Build and sustain a secure, resilient, and scalable network and platform for government missions.
• Partner with Business Development and Product to bridge the gap between our core technology and government requirements.
• Mentor and inspire a high-performing technical team to deliver mission-critical solutions.
• Ensure that our engineering practices, security protocols, and delivery timelines set a new standard for government technology.
• Define and execute a technical strategy that aligns with both customer mission objectives and broader business goals.
• Articulate complex technical concepts to a wide range of audiences, including senior government officials and non-technical stakeholders.

Requirements

• Engineering background in Computer Science, Mathematics, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading engineering teams that have built, deployed, and sustained software solutions for U.S. government, defense, or intelligence community customers.
• Experience with modern software architecture, particularly for secure, scalable, and distributed systems.
• Familiarity with cloud environments (e.g., AWS GovCloud, Azure Government) and air-gapped environments.
• Understanding of federal security compliance standards (e.g., FedRAMP, RMF, STIGs).
• Proven ability to define and execute a technical strategy that aligns with both customer mission objectives and broader business goals.
• Ability to articulate complex technical concepts with authority and clarity to a wide range of audiences.
• An active U.S. Top Secret (TS) security clearance is strongly preferred. At a minimum, the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance is required.

What We Value

• Continuous learning and decision-making with minimal supervision.
• A belief in empowering teams to achieve the impossible.
• A mentor and force-multiplier who grows the next generation of engineering leaders.
• A thoughtful, practical approach to problem-solving that considers tradeoffs and avoids over-engineering.
• The ability to work collaboratively in teams of technical and non-technical individuals and understand how technical decisions impact the customer.
• A deep understanding of cryptographic systems and the ability to design privacy-conscious solutions.
• The ability to learn new technology and concepts, even without in-depth experience.
• The ability to balance a forward-looking vision with the concrete realities of government requirements and constraints.
• The ability to take creative yet practical paths to deploy modern technology within highly regulated environments.
• The ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with government partners and internal stakeholders.

What We Require

• Engineering background in Computer Science, Mathematics, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading engineering teams that have built, deployed, and sustained software solutions for U.S. government, defense, or intelligence community customers.
• Experience with modern software architecture, particularly for secure, scalable, and distributed systems.
• Familiarity with cloud environments (e.g., AWS GovCloud, Azure Government) and air-gapped environments.
• Understanding of federal security compliance standards (e.g., FedRAMP, RMF, STIGs).
• Proven ability to define and execute a technical strategy that aligns with both customer mission objectives and broader business goals.
• Ability to articulate complex technical concepts with authority and clarity to a wide range of audiences.
• An active U.S. Top Secret (TS) security clearance is strongly preferred. At a minimum, the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance is required.

How to Apply

To apply, click the link provided. We reserve the right to use any unsolicited resumes received from external agencies and individual recruiters without payment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.