Forward Deployed Architect

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Take ownership of the complete system architecture for your engagement, which includes platform architecture, data and AI design, integration patterns, observability, security, and operational readiness.

• Transform engagement objectives into a structured target architecture and a practical implementation plan that the engineering team can follow.

• Make informed decisions regarding the platform and patterns, model selection, agent and pipeline architecture, data flow, security, and cost, and stand firm on these choices.

• Provide guidance and review the engineering team's work, ensuring that all individual workstreams come together to form a cohesive production system.

• Maintain a hands-on approach: write code on critical paths and tackle the challenging aspects of the architecture personally.

• Collaborate with the Forward Deployed AI Lead to ensure alignment between architecture, business priorities, engagement scope, and delivery sequencing.

• Produce architecture documentation, implementation guidelines, and production-ready systems that clients can confidently manage post-handoff.

• Contribute back to the practice by sharing reference architectures, patterns, and accelerators.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in software engineering or technical architecture, particularly with production systems in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP).

• Demonstrated experience as the technical design authority for production systems delivered to clients.

• Hands-on expertise in one or more areas: LLM application and agent development, production data engineering, or large-scale backend systems.

• Proven capability to guide multiple engineers while ensuring architectural consistency throughout the system.

• Continues to code: comfortable working on critical paths and addressing complex challenges personally.

• Excellent communicator: technically precise with engineers and clear and confident when interacting with VP- and C-level leadership.

• High tolerance for ambiguity; adept at transforming loosely defined problems into actionable plans for the team to execute.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive base salary complemented by performance-based bonuses.

• MacBook Pro and swag kit provided to support your best work.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Generous holidays, flexible PTO, and a remote-first work environment.

• Professional development budget that includes Databricks and cloud certifications.

• Spot bonuses available for relevant certifications.

• Opportunities for conference attendance and thought leadership.

• A collaborative and low-ego culture with direct access to leadership.

• Chance to shape a growing practice from its foundational stage.