Forward Deployed Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Location: New York City

Employment Type: Full-time

Work Arrangement: On-site in NYC office (regular travel, 30-50% , for client engagements)

Our client, an AI startup founded by engineers from institutions like Palantir and Citadel, is building the first AI-augmented deep research platform for the financial services industry. They recently raised $7.25 million from backers including founders of OpenAI and DBT.

As a Forward Deployed Software Engineer , you will be the technical architect for their most strategic client relationships at top financial firms. This role embodies the principle of "Forward-Deployed with Product DNA," meaning you embed directly with clients to own their outcomes while simultaneously architecting platform features that serve the entire market. Success is measured by your ability to iterate, deploy, and co-develop competitive advantages in high-stakes research environments.

• Field Engineering & Rapid Prototyping: Build and deploy custom AI research workflows directly at client sites, rapidly pushing platform boundaries.
• Technical Integration Leadership: Design and build complex enterprise integrations with client data infrastructure, proprietary systems, and financial research tools (like Bloomberg and CapIQ).
• Product Innovation in the Field: Identify technical gaps while embedded with clients, architecting and implementing platform capabilities that are then adopted as core product features .
• Platform Performance Engineering: Optimize and scale the AI platform for client-specific use cases, solving complex performance challenges in production.
• Dual-Mode Engineering: Rotate between forward-deployed client work and core platform development, feeding field insights directly into architecture and product evolution.
• Technical Problem Solving: Serve as the primary technical resource for complex client issues, debugging across the full stack.

Requirements

• 4-7 years of experience in software engineering with a track record of deploying complex systems in enterprise environments.
• 5+ years of software engineering experience delivering complex enterprise systems.
• Client-facing technical experience (e.g., Forward Deployed Engineer or similar).
• Full-stack development skills (Python/TypeScript preferred; Rust a bonus) with expertise in distributed systems, data pipelines, and API development.
• Expertise in Enterprise Integration (SSO/SCIM, RBAC, security requirements) and Data Platform experience (large-scale ETL, analytics).
• A future technical startup founder mindset and comfort in fast-paced, high-impact environments.
• Willingness to travel 30–50% for on-site client engagements.

Benefits

• Salary: $150K - $250K
• Equity: Competitive Equity
• Visa sponsorship is not available .
• Benefits include: Comprehensive health insurance, 401k, daily lunch and snacks, global deployment support (housing/transportation), unlimited PTO, comprehensive parental leave, a dedicated "Build Anything" budget , and Personal AI lab access (dedicated compute cluster).

Due to the high volume of applications we anticipate, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to all candidates. If you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. We genuinely appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your job search.

Commitment to Equality and Accessibility:

At MLabs, we are committed to offer equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and providing information in accessible formats. Our goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for all. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the hiring process or you would like to see the job-advert in an accessible format please let us know at the earliest opportunity by emailing human- [email protected].

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