Forward Deployed Software Engineer, Internship - Defense Tech
Application analysis
Forward Deployed Software Engineer, Internship - Defense Tech at Palantir is a forward deployed mission software role for engineers who want customer-facing technical work with real deployment ownership.
Reading this role
This Forward Deployed Engineer role centers on embedded customer delivery — discovery, prototyping, integration, and production rollout.
About Palantir
Palantir deploys data platforms to government and commercial customers with intense on-site delivery expectations. The role is anchored in Washington, D.C., so expect on-site customer work in that region.
Stand out for Forward Deployed Software Engineer, Internship - Defense Tech
- Lead your application with one paragraph tying Forward Deployed Software Engineer, Internship - Defense Tech to a specific customer or deployment you owned — Palantir hires for shipped outcomes, not tool lists.
- Prepare a 5-minute “week one on site” plan: who you would meet, what you would inspect in their stack, and what artifact you would deliver by day five.
- Show you can go from discovery notes → working integration → production checklist without needing a large internal team.
- This role is tied to Washington, D.C. — mention willingness to work on-site with customers and any existing ties to that market (clients, partners, or domain knowledge).
Stand out at Palantir
- Demonstrate mission drive with a concrete example — Palantir will probe for specifics, not buzzwords.
- Demonstrate clearance readiness with a concrete example — Palantir will probe for specifics, not buzzwords.
- Decomposition interviews and scenario questions are common — they want evidence you have thrived embedded with customers.
- Read recent engineering blog posts, product launches, and customer stories on palantir.com — reference one explicitly in your outreach to show genuine interest.
Tailored from this listing’s title, company, and description. Always verify requirements on the company careers page before applying.
Role description
A World-Changing Company
Palantir builds the world’s leading software for data-driven decisions and operations. By bringing the right data to the people who need it, our platforms empower our partners to develop lifesaving drugs, forecast supply chain disruptions, locate missing children, and more.
The Role
Forward Deployed Software Engineers (FDSEs) work directly with customers to quickly understand their greatest problems and design and implement solutions to use data against them. Our customers rely on Palantir’s platforms for some of their most critical operations. As an FDSE working in our defense business, you will help defense customers plan and execute operations, understand their personnel and equipment footprint, and communicate in real-time with mission partners and legacy systems. You’ll have the opportunity to gain rare insight into and contribute to some of the world’s most critical challenges.
Core
Responsibilities
As an FDSE Intern, your responsibilities look similar to those at a small startup, with the resources, stability and mentorship of an established tech company: You’ll work in small teams with minimal supervision and own end-to-end execution of high stakes projects. As an FDSE Defense Tech Intern, you will be supporting work specifically focusing on delivering our Palantir Defense capabilities to our most critical mission partners. Your day might span discussing architecture with fellow engineers, wrangling massive-scale data, coding a custom web app, speaking with customer contacts, or establishing strategy for your team. FDSE Defense Tech Interns are treated just like full time engineers, with significant freedom and ownership over their work. Interns take responsibility for real world projects and outcomes that our customers rely on.