# Forward Deployed Engineer

**Company:** [Idler](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/idler)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA
**Role:** Solutions Architecture
**Skills:** Python, TypeScript, Production Systems, Debugging, Technical Infrastructure, Reinforcement Learning, Evaluation Datasets, Systems Thinking
**Posted:** 2026-08-26

> Own customer-facing technical delivery for AI labs and partner organizations, translating real-world workflows into reusable evaluation and reinforcement-learning infrastructure. The role requires strong production engineering, communication, judgment, and ownership in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end product pipeline, maintaining a clear model of customer demand and partnership opportunities and shaping the product roadmap.
- Work directly with researchers at leading AI labs to understand how they measure and train models, identify capability gaps, and propose products to build.
- Establish and maintain partnerships with companies, civil institutions, and research labs.
- Manage the technical and relational sides of customer and partner lifecycles.
- Build reusable, robust technical infrastructure that models organizations’ workflows precisely.
- Create tooling and systems that make each customer or partner onboarding easier and more repeatable.
- Advocate for customer and partner needs across the team.
- Travel as needed.

## Requirements
- Strong engineering foundation from a rigorous technical environment.
- Advanced proficiency in at least one modern programming language, such as Python or TypeScript, with experience writing and debugging production systems.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior researchers and non-technical executives.
- Track record of exceptional performance in academic, athletic, professional, or entrepreneurial pursuits.
- High tolerance for ambiguity, intensity, and sustained effort.
- Independent, resourceful judgment and strong ownership of outcomes.
- Meticulous attention to detail.

## Nice-to-haves
- Experience at an early-stage startup or in a role extending beyond a formal job description.
- Ability to learn quickly in challenging, real-world environments.
- Serious consideration of starting a company.

## Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive salary and meaningful equity.
- Free meals in the office.
- Healthcare and 401(k).
- 15 days of paid time off per year.
- Relocation assistance.

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**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/e3faed75-ef24-4848-b9a3-9ef2b11d78c2