# Forward Deployed Engineer

**Company:** [Quadric](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/quadric)
**Location:** Burlingame, CA
**Role:** Solutions Architecture
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** C++, Python, quantization, custom kernels, compiler tooling, performance profiling, Embedded Systems, npu, GPU, dsp, Agentic Workflows, Claude Code, TensorRT, snpe, qnn
**Posted:** 2026-07-22

> Forward Deployed Engineer owning technical customer engagements from evaluation to design win on Quadric's novel Chimera GPNPU. Port workloads, write custom kernels, embed with customer teams, build agentic tooling/playbooks, and relay insights to shape product roadmap. Requires strong C++/Python, systems performance intuition, and high agency in ambiguous environments.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do
- Own the technical path from customer evaluation to committed design win on the Chimera GPNPU.
- Convert 2–3 active customer evaluations into committed design wins by porting customer workloads, architecting adaptations, profiling, and writing custom kernels when required.
- Embed with customer engineering teams on-site and remotely: debug failures, hit benchmark targets, guide model-architecture tradeoffs, and drive evaluations end-to-end.
- Build the agentic FDE toolkit: codify learnings into reusable SDK skills, porting playbooks, agentic content, applications, and benchmark collateral.
- Close the loop internally: partner with engineering and product teams to relay customer learnings, shape the roadmap, and contribute to the agentic FDE toolset.

## What Success Looks Like
- Within first 6–12 months: convert 2–3 evaluations into design wins; achieve deep fluency across Chimera stack (quantization, custom kernels, compiler); establish reusable assets that shorten future engagements; become trusted technical partner; help define and refine agentic (Claude Code–based) FDE workflow.

## What We're Looking For
**Required**
- Strong C++ and Python; experience writing performance-critical code for constrained targets (DSP, NPU, GPU, or embedded SoC).
- Systems-level performance intuition (memory bandwidth, data movement, cycle-level reasoning); ability to read profiles and identify bottlenecks.
- High agency, independent problem-solving; methodical and empirical.
- Comfortable operating without a playbook and in ambiguity.

**Preferred**
- Prior FAE, Sales Engineering, or FDE experience, or startup experience owning end-to-end implementations.
- Familiarity with agentic dev tooling (Claude Code, MCP) or strong enthusiasm to adopt.
- Background at NPU/edge-AI IP/silicon companies (e.g. Qualcomm, NVIDIA TensorRT/Jetson, Ceva, Cadence, Synopsys, Arm, Hailo, Ambarella, SiMa.ai, Axelera, EdgeCortix).
- Experience at inference-focused startups (e.g. Groq, Untether, Tenstorrent) in field/customer engineering or kernel teams.
- Palantir-style FDE experience (embedded or ML-systems backgrounds).
- Experience at technical trading arms optimizing kernels/hardware (e.g. DRW, Hudson River, D.E. Shaw, Citadel).
- Big-firm consulting background with hands-on technical work.

## What We Offer
- Competitive salary and equity (range reflects typical compensation based on market rate, qualifications, experience, interview performance, and location).
- Medical, dental, vision insurance (premiums 99% covered for employees).
- Company-paid life insurance; voluntary supplemental life, STD, LTD.
- Commuter support (parking/Caltrain reimbursement).
- FSA + HSA.
- Paid parental leave.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Flexible PTO and winter holiday shutdown.
- Catered lunch daily.
- Downtown Burlingame office.

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