# Forward Deployed Engineer

**Company:** [Lightning AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/lightning-ai)
**Location:** New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA
**Role:** Solutions Architecture
**Salary:** $120k – $250k/yr
**Skills:** Python, Docker, Kubernetes, Ai/Ml Pipelines, Model Serving Systems, Distributed Inference Workloads, vLLM, TensorRT, Ray, LangGraph, Vector Databases, Workflow Orchestration Systems, Inference Optimization, Gpu-Accelerated Workloads
**Posted:** 2026-05-21

> Forward Deployed Engineer who partners with customers to design, implement, and deploy production AI systems and workflows. Requires strong Python experience, customer-facing technical roles, and familiarity with AI/ML infrastructure and deployment.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do
- Partner directly with customers to design, implement, and deploy end-to-end AI systems and workflows on Lightning’s platform
- Translate vague customer objectives into clear technical specifications, proof-of-concepts, and scalable production implementations
- Own customer technical engagements end-to-end, from early discovery and architecture through deployment, monitoring, and expansion
- Develop and maintain production-grade software systems and services using modern programming languages, with a strong preference for Python
- Build reliable, observable systems with strong attention to latency, throughput, quality, scalability, and cost efficiency in production environments
- Debug and optimize AI systems across inference infrastructure, model behavior, APIs, and distributed workloads to improve performance and reliability
- Work closely with customer engineering teams throughout the full lifecycle of AI deployments, including technical discovery, implementation, deployment, and scaling
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Lightning’s product and engineering teams to improve platform capabilities, influence roadmap priorities, and identify opportunities for reusable product improvements
- Navigate ambiguity with sound technical judgment, making thoughtful tradeoffs and selecting the right tools and approaches without introducing unnecessary complexity
- Demonstrate strong ownership and accountability in execution, with a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for both customers and internal teams

## What You’ll Need
### Required Qualifications
- Strong software engineering experience building and maintaining production systems in one or more general-purpose programming languages, with Python strongly preferred
- Experience working directly with customers in highly technical environments, such as Forward Deployed Engineering, Solutions Engineering, Applied AI Engineering, Technical Product Engineering, or related roles
- Familiarity with AI/ML pipelines and the lifecycle of model development, evaluation, deployment, and monitoring
- Experience deploying and operating production AI/ML systems in cloud or distributed environments
- Familiarity with modern AI infrastructure and tooling such as Docker, Kubernetes, APIs, model serving systems, or distributed inference workloads
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, especially when working through complex technical topics with customers, engineers, and cross-functional stakeholders
- Ability to translate business needs into technical solutions and drive projects from initial concept through production delivery
- Ability to execute effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving, high-growth environments
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field

### Nice-to-Haves
- Experience building, deploying, or optimizing large-scale AI/ML systems in production environments
- Experience with modern AI stacks and tooling such as vLLM, TensorRT, Ray, LangGraph, vector databases, or workflow orchestration systems
- Familiarity with inference optimization, distributed systems, or GPU-accelerated workloads
- Startup experience or experience operating in highly cross-functional environments
- Track record of rapidly shipping proof-of-concepts and production systems while maintaining strong engineering quality
- Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, AI, or a related technical field

## Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage (U.S.); Private medical and dental insurance (U.K.)
- Retirement and financial wellness support (U.S.); Pension contribution (U.K.)
- Generous paid time off, plus holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Professional development support
- Wellness and work-from-home stipends
- Flexible work environment

## Similar roles

- [Solutions Engineer, Advisory](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/843a1048-2a54-4fe6-b2d4-290c46e47815) - Fieldguide - Remote - $120k – $235k/yr
- [Deployment Systems Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/55c801fc-5077-4cdc-870c-5a5f399bdaca) - Nominal - New York, NY - $120k – $230k/yr
- [Solutions Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/24aef670-e68f-4ce3-89bb-4cd7557d5d05) - Numeral - Remote - $120k – $150k/yr
- [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/3e97959a-1f7a-4058-9ff9-f3bd6ff367a3) - Permitflow - New York, NY - $120k – $240k/yr
- [Forward Deployed Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/5efce153-ee74-4684-83ec-9a38986227d1) - Bland AI - San Francisco, CA - $120k – $200k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/499df780-0d48-4719-a1e9-5a6948db6855
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/499df780-0d48-4719-a1e9-5a6948db6855