Forward Deployed Engineer

About the company

Our client is a fast-growing financial technology company.

The role

Raydar is recruiting for this role on behalf of our client. Lead technical implementations of AI-driven software for client organizations, serving as the main technical contact for senior stakeholders. Shape product direction using lessons from live usage, partnering closely with engineering leadership while helping build out a young client-facing engineering function.

What you'll do

• Put AI-based software into live use for senior client stakeholders.
• Run each customer rollout from the initial scoping stage through launch, acting as the main contact throughout.
• Build trust with client leaders by learning their challenges and aligning on priorities.
• Design, build and refine AI agents, including prompt design, model integration and fast prototyping with AI coding assistants.
• Scope and build new capabilities that let customers grow usage and improve results.
• Connect the product with customer systems, working hands-on with their technical staff on APIs and integrations.
• Partner with core platform engineers to keep delivery smooth and pass production learnings back into the product.
• Write up lessons learned in internal playbooks so the function can grow.

Requirements

What we're looking for

• At least 2 years in a hybrid technical and customer-facing role, such as forward-deployed engineering, agent engineering, growth engineering, or founding engineer or founder work.
• Hands-on engineering ability with Python and cloud-based, API-driven systems.
• Working knowledge of large language models, prompting and agent-based AI approaches.
• Habit of using AI coding assistants to deliver quickly.
• Clear communication that links complex technical topics to business results for both technical and non-technical listeners.
• A self-driven, fast-moving style, ready to hop on customer calls or build integrations when needed.
• Located in the San Francisco area, or willing to move there to work on-site.

Bonus points

• Previous forward-deployed engineering experience at a leading AI company.
• Background in agent engineering or growth engineering.
• Experience as a founding engineer or founder.
• Backend engineering experience paired with solutions engineering experience.
• Competitive programming or research conference background.

Benefits

Compensation and benefits

• Base salary: USD 150,000 to 225,000 per year
• Equity
• Relocation support

Location and work model

• San Francisco, CA, United States
• On-site
• Full-time