Forward Deployed Engineer
talentplutoAbout the role
Location: New York, NY
Work Model: In-person (occasional client travel ~1-2x/month)
Industry: AI transformation & implementation consulting
Compensation: $180K base, $220K-$500K+ OTE
About the Company
Our partner is a fast-growing AI transformation and implementation consultancy serving Fortune 500 clients across AI strategy and AI engineering. A preferred implementation partner of a leading AI research lab, they work directly with the C-suites of top companies on high-priority, confidential AI initiatives. Fully bootstrapped and cash-flow profitable since day one, the team is roughly 40 people today and doubling headcount every quarter, with plans to reach 150-200 by year end. The consulting business also funds a growing portfolio of ambitious longer-term bets.
The Opportunity
As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll be a post-sale, client-facing software engineer implementing AI solutions directly on each client's tech stack. You'll be paired with an AI strategist who owns relationship management and status updates, freeing you to focus on building, presenting, and shipping real solutions alongside the client.
This is a high-agency, high-upside role at an early and rapidly scaling company. You'll work across a range of tech stacks depending on the client, take on meaningful autonomy from day one, and grow into expanded scope over time, with clear paths toward senior engineering titles and engineering management as the team scales.
Responsibilities
Build, implement, and present AI solutions on clients' existing tech stacks in a post-sale, client-facing capacity
Partner closely with an AI strategist who manages the client relationship, while you own the technical build and delivery
Ship production software across the full stack in a collaborative team environment
Lead technical initiatives and operate with a high degree of autonomy
Occasionally support pre-sale scoping when needed (not a standard expectation)
Travel to client sites roughly 1-2 times per month as required
Requirements
3-8 years of software engineering experience
Strong full-stack engineer comfortable shipping production software in a team
Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and maintaining web applications and agentic applications
Track record of leading technical initiatives and operating independently
Client-facing experience strongly preferred and used as a differentiator among comparable candidates
Backgrounds as a former founder, CTO, or founding engineer of a startup are highly valued, as is experience running an engineering-led AI consulting effort
Computer science or engineering education is a plus
Comfortable with an in-person, fast-paced environment and a willingness to put in effort beyond a standard week
Responsibilities
- Build, implement, and present AI solutions on clients' existing tech stacks in a post-sale, client-facing capacity
- Partner closely with an AI strategist who manages the client relationship, while you own the technical build and delivery
- Ship production software across the full stack in a collaborative team environment
- Lead technical initiatives and operate with a high degree of autonomy
- Occasionally support pre-sale scoping when needed
- Travel to client sites roughly 1-2 times per month as required
Qualifications
- 3-8 years of software engineering experience
- Strong full-stack engineer comfortable shipping production software in a team
- Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and maintaining web applications and agentic applications
- Track record of leading technical initiatives and operating independently
- Client-facing experience strongly preferred
- Backgrounds as a former founder, CTO, or founding engineer of a startup are highly valued
- Computer science or engineering education is a plus
Skills mentioned
About talentpluto
Resumes made careers readable. Online profiles made them searchable. Pluto makes them understood. Pluto is an AI voice agent that learns a professional’s story in a 10 minute conversation, including what they have done, what they are great at, what they want next, and what should stay private. Pluto makes that context discoverable to the right people and AI agents, helping them understand the professional more fully. Warm introductions are one way Pluto puts that context to work today. When there is a real fit, Pluto privately confirms interest and makes a warm introduction to a startup. 18K+ professionals have shared their career context with Pluto. 100+ companies use Pluto to meet people with the full story.