Forward Deployed Engineer - P2P Networking

Special Notice:

This position is NOT contingent upon awarding of a project or needing a funding source. This is full-time employment with webAI.

About Us:

At webAI we firmly believe that the future of AI lies in distributed processing at the edge, bringing computation closer to the source of data generation. Our mission is to build a future where local and private is the default, servers and data centers are optional. Where valuable data and intellectual property remain entirely private, enabling the deployment of large-scale AI models directly on standard consumer hardware without compromising the information embedded within those models. We are developing an end-to-end platform that is secure, scalable, and fully under the control of our users, empowering enterprises with AI that understands their unique business.

About The Role:

We are looking for Forward Deployed Engineers of various levels (Engineer, Senior, Staff, etc.) to support webAI Public Sector’s initiatives focused on secure, distributed, and resilient AI infrastructure.

Here’s where it’s tricky. We know decentralized systems and distributed systems have a lot of overlap, but they aren’t exactly the same thing. In our opinion decentralized systems have a connotation of trustless environments, and that’s the knowledge we are looking for in this role. Taking it a step further of what would be great to have in this role, is experience developing tech that looks more like IPFS, torrents, etc. than blockchain, but we also know a lot of those concepts overlap too.

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

• Please note: Development will be done in Rust and you’ll be able to get up to speed on Rust while working with these systems if you haven’t worked in it

Qualifications:

• 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

Why webAI?

At webAI we do our best to live out our core values we have put in place as the foundation on which we operate as a team. We are looking for people who are interested in personifying the same:

• Truth - that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality; it’s not always easy, it’s not always pleasant, but we try to live by what reality is so we can accomplish something really cool

• Ownership - the act, state or right of possessing something; we want you to fully own your responsibilities in this company, and continue to help define what fits in that purview and how we can help you be your best

• Tenacity - persistent determination; we are really fired up about what we are trying to do here, and would love to have those who are fired up about what they do, to join us. If you really dig our mission, we certainly don’t mind that cherry on top

• Humility - the quality of having a modest view of one’s value or importance; do we hope webAI can change the world? Certainly, but we know the only way to accomplish that is to not worry so much about the company’s accomplishments or status, but instead put all of that importance on building a world class team and treating them as such. We believe that’s the ultimate formula for success

Benefits:

• Competitive salary

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits package

• 401(k) match (U.S.-based employees only)

• $200/month Health & Wellness stipend

• Continuing Education support

• $500/year Function Health subscription (U.S.-based employees only)

• Free parking for in-office employees

• Flexible Time Off (FTO)

• Parental leave for eligible employees

• Supplemental life insurance

webAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of webAI to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.