Forward Deployed Engineering for Government
Embed Engineering in Your Mission
Add expertise to your software arsenal. Defense Unicorns’ Forward Deployed Engineers work alongside operators to build, deploy, and adapt mission software fast, even in classified and airgapped environments.
Expertise, Applied
Engineers embed directly with mission teams to understand real workflows and real constraints.
Rapid Delivery Cycles
Short loops from problem to working capability are measured in days or weeks, not years.
Deploy Where It Matters
Solutions run in cloud, on-prem, and tactical edge systems from day one.
The Reality
Off-the-Shelf Software Breaks at the Mission Edge
Military operations run on legacy, constrained infrastructure, where data is fragmented, and security boundaries are tight. Off-the-shelf software rarely fits without heavy customization.
Teams are forced to build custom integrations, workflows, and analytics, often for disconnected or classified environments. By the time solutions arrive, they’re misaligned with how operators actually work.
Missions Don’t Wait for Product Roadmaps
Operational teams need fast results, with quick cycles from problem to working solution, tight feedback loops, and priorities driven by the mission, not quarterly feature plans.
The Solution
Forward Deployed Engineering for Defense
Defense Unicorns’ Forward Deployed Engineers integrate software, write production-quality custom code, and deploy solutions directly into your environment, including operations that include sensitive and classified data.
By working beside users, FDEs gather real-world feedback, iterate quickly, and troubleshoot mission-critical issues in real time.
Embed With the Mission
Engineers observe workflows, systems, and constraints where the work actually happens.
Build and Deploy Fast
Small, functional slices ship quickly into real environments for immediate feedback.
Iterate at Mission Speed
Feedback loops stay tight as solutions evolve alongside changing operational needs.
Impact
Outcomes That Hold Up in the Real World
Forward Deployed Engineers delivers mission-specific solutions shaped by real operator workflows—not generic use cases. Teams move from problem to deployed capability in short cycles, validating software in operational environments instead of test labs.
Because engineers work alongside the mission, solutions adapt as data, constraints, and priorities change. Software doesn’t just ship, it evolves with the operation.
LARA: Built Beside Naval Engineers
Real-World Example
Designed Around Real Workflows
LARA is an AI assistant purpose-built to help teams understand and act on complex Naval Engineering Records by extracting insights from thousands of historical documents and technical references.
Using the Forward Deployed Engineering model, our team observed how users actually worked, identified friction in daily tasks, and shipped small functional updates for rapid feedback.
Mission Impact
Faster Decisions in Operational Environments
UDS enables consistent, rapid deployments into real operational environments. New features reach users immediately while environments remain stable and reproducible.
21% reduction in response time, saving over two days of resolution time per task
Bring Engineering to the Front Lines
Embed engineers within your mission and deliver software that actually works in the real world.