Lead technical POCs and pre-sales engagements to turn proofs-of-concept into production deployments. Troubleshoot complex integrations (identity, security, networking, observability), design custom solutions, run onboarding and enablement, and act as the technical lead during sales to ensure successful rollout and adoption.
AI is reshaping how every company operates, but most enterprises are stuck between “exciting prototypes” and “real systems that are safe, governed, and observable.” Our client sits squarely in that gap: they help large organizations roll out AI agents, tools, and workflows without losing control of security, identity, or data.
Their platform provides a unified way to run agent frameworks, skills, and tools with enterprise-grade security, granular governance, and deep observability. They are well-funded by top-tier investors and already working with recognizable technology-forward customers, but still small enough that every hire moves the needle. The team is roughly two dozen people, mostly engineers, shipping quickly and working very close to where AI actually touches production systems.
As a Forward-Deployed Engineer, you will own the technical side of turning interest into live usage. You will lead POCs, debug gnarly integrations, and partner directly with customer engineering and security teams to get from “this is cool” to “this is running in prod.”
Why this role is compelling
- Impact: When a proof of concept becomes a production deployment, it will be because you made it work end-to-end.
- Excellence: You’ll work alongside engineers who understand both deep infrastructure and enterprise sales motion, operating at the intersection of the two.
- Ownership: You will own customer outcomes—from the first technical deep dive through successful rollout and early adoption.
What you’ll do
- Lead technical outcomes for enterprise POCs, from scoping to success criteria to implementation.
- Run pre-sales deep dives, demos, and architecture working sessions with customer engineering and security teams.
- Troubleshoot integrations in complex environments (identity, access, networking, security tooling, observability).
- Design and build custom configurations or one-off solutions when the standard implementation path is not enough.
- Run onboarding and enablement sessions to get customer teams comfortable building on the platform.
- Be the go-to technical expert in the room during sales cycles, handling hard questions from senior engineers and architects.
Requirements
- 5+ years in a forward-deployed / solutions / sales engineering / consulting-type role, ideally with a strong CS or software engineering background.
- Real technical depth: you can read, write, and debug production-grade code independently, not just wire up demos.
- Hands-on experience building or integrating AI agents or AI-powered workflows, with opinions on architecture, memory, and tool design.
- Depth in at least one relevant area such as identity and auth, security tooling, agent frameworks, protocol / integration design, networking, deployment, or observability.
- An AI-native working style—you use AI tools to build faster and better, not just as a chat interface.
- Executive presence: you’re comfortable sitting across from senior technical and business leaders, asking sharp questions, and steering the conversation.
- High agency and ownership: when something is blocked, you push it forward, pull in the right people, and keep going until it’s solved.
Bonus points
- Prior experience in a similar role at a high-growth B2B SaaS or infrastructure startup.
- Open-source work, writing, or talks related to agents, identity, policy, security, or adjacent infrastructure topics.
Benefits
What our client offers
- Competitive salary and meaningful equity, calibrated to the impact and visibility of this role.
- Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick time, and parental leave.
- Budget for conferences, courses, and certifications across AI, enterprise software, and customer-facing excellence.
- High-end equipment and tools to support how you work best.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
- Direct exposure to innovative customers who are actually putting AI into production, and the chance to see your work deployed in their environments.
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Financial Services
Lead Confido’s creative brand direction as its first creative brand hire. Translate the new identity into a distinctive, consistent system across the website, campaigns, decks, advertising, events, video, and product experiences. Develop compelling stories from customer outcomes and CPG operations, oversee creative production, and build a network of specialist talent. Partner with founders, marketing, and product design while owning creative standards, vendors, budgets, and execution from concept through production.
Top Skills:
Figma
Financial Services
Manage and grow a portfolio of 100–130 small-business clients, providing customized banking, deposit, cash management, credit, and financial solutions. Acquire new clients, develop relationships through in-person meetings, identify business and personal financial needs, coordinate referrals to internal specialists, and balance client service with portfolio profitability, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
Top Skills:
ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerpointMicrosoft Word
Financial Services
Designs user-centered B2B applications for institutional banking clients, leads experience strategy and product definition, applies user research and data insights, and ensures accessible, consistent experiences across product suites. Partners with product, technology, and business teams in an enterprise Agile environment, mentors designers, champions design standards, and guides iterative improvements through feedback, market analysis, wireframes, storyboards, and prototypes.
Top Skills:
Accessibility GuidelinesAPIsAssistive TechnologiesClient-Side TechnologiesMicroservicesPrototypingScaled AgileWireframing
What you need to know about the NYC Tech Scene
As the undisputed financial capital of the world, New York City is an epicenter of startup funding activity. The city has a thriving fintech scene and is a major player in verticals ranging from AI to biotech, cybersecurity and digital media. It also has universities like NYU, Columbia and Cornell Tech attracting students and researchers from across the globe, providing the ecosystem with a constant influx of world-class talent. And its East Coast location and three international airports make it a perfect spot for European companies establishing a foothold in the United States.
Key Facts About NYC Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 549,200; 6% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Capgemini, Bloomberg, IBM, Spotify
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, Fintech
- Funding Landscape: $25.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Greycroft, Thrive Capital, Union Square Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Tiger Global Management, Tribeca Venture Partners, Insight Partners, Two Sigma Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, CUNY, AI Now Institute, Flatiron Institute, C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics, NASA Space Radiation Laboratory
