Forward Deployed Engineer - P2P Networking

webAI

27d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a full-time employment position with webAI, not contingent upon project award or funding. webAI believes the future of AI lies in distributed processing at the edge, bringing computation closer to the source of data generation. Their mission is to build a future where local and private is the default, servers and data centers are optional, and valuable data and intellectual property remain entirely private. They are developing an end-to-end platform that is secure, scalable, and fully under the control of users, empowering enterprises with AI that understands their unique business. This role specifically supports webAI Public Sector’s initiatives focused on secure, distributed, and resilient AI infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have experience with decentralized systems, similar to IPFS or torrents, rather than blockchain, though overlap is acknowledged.

Requirements

5-10+ years of experience (depends on leveling) with backend systems languages i.e. C++, C, Go, Rust
Experience with peer to peer or decentralized networking frameworks
Active US Security Clearance

Nice To Haves

Experience developing tech that looks more like IPFS, torrents, etc. than blockchain
Ability to get up to speed on Rust while working with these systems if you haven’t worked in it

Responsibilities

Work in backend systems languages to design and implement advanced synchronization and networking systems that enable reliable AI operations across heterogeneous environments, from edge devices to cloud isolated government systems, while upholding the highest standards of performance, reliability, and data privacy.
Architect robust data synchronization frameworks using content addressable storage, Merkle trees, CRDTs.
Lead performance tuning, debugging, and optimization of distributed software under resource constrained and intermittent connectivity conditions.
Ensure security first design through threat modeling, secure key management, and integration of cryptographic primitives and protocols.
Collaborate with MLOps, Infrastructure, and Security teams to deploy and integrate AI components in restricted or air gapped systems.
Contribute to cross functional architectural design discussions and documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
Maintain rigorous testing, observability, and validation practices to ensure system reliability and compliance readiness.
Other areas touched on may include distributed hash tables, content identifiers, gossip protocols, DAGs, overlay networks, and NAT traversal.
25-50% travel to other webAI office locations, along with government field and test sites across the country.