Most engineers talk about building things that matter. This is your chance to prove it: relentless shipping, strict evaluation, and real-world AI systems that directly shape how the U.S. government operates. No credentials theater. No theoretical exercises. Just production output every week, under pressure.
Gauntlet for America is a fully funded, selective 10-week fellowship designed to build AI-native engineering capability for the United States government. It is a high-intensity proving ground for experienced engineers who want to demonstrate they can build and operate production-grade AI systems in environments where reliability, security, and real-world impact matter.
Fellows ship weekly, operate under strict evaluation, and train alongside other high-performing engineers. Upon successful completion, graduates are placed into federal GS-12 engineering roles (~$150K + full federal benefits), working on systems that directly impact how the government operates.
The program runs 10 weeks: 3 weeks remote, followed by 7 weeks onsite in Austin, Texas. Fellows should expect a high-intensity schedule (80–100 hours/week) designed to maximize learning speed, signal, and career outcomes.
Outcomes:
- 10+ production-ready AI systems shipped during the fellowship
- Direct placement into a federal engineering role (GS-12 equivalent, ~$160K–$200K+ depending on experience + full benefits)
- Work on high-impact systems shaping how the U.S. government builds and operates technology
- Join a network of AI-native engineers operating at the frontier of public sector innovation
If you're ready to be evaluated on what you build — not where you went to school — apply now.
AI-first remote workers.