Principal Forward Deployed Engineer - Gen AI

This role involves embedding on-site with the client to lead the end-to-end development and deployment of GenAI and agentic solutions, from proof of concept through to production go-live. The successful candidate will work closely with the client’s teams to build, integrate, and adapt advanced AI-driven systems within their live environment, ensuring seamless functionality and addressing challenges as they arise during real-world usage.

Key Responsibilities

- Own the complete build lifecycle of the GenAI/agentic solution, starting from the scoped architecture through to full implementation.
- Integrate the solution into the client’s live environment, including authentication, data access, existing systems, and legacy interfaces.
- Adapt and refine the build on-site as real usage reveals edge cases not anticipated in the original design.
- Debug and resolve production issues directly within the client’s infrastructure to maintain system stability.
- Establish monitoring systems and create comprehensive handoff documentation for the client’s internal teams.
- Act as the primary technical point of contact for the client throughout the delivery process.
- Lead the delivery pod for GenAI/agentic engagements when appropriate, ensuring smooth project execution.
- Support presales activities when demand exceeds Hub capacity, contributing technical expertise to pursuit efforts.
- Incorporate learnings from builds back into the practice’s estimation models and pattern libraries to improve future projects.
- Manage client expectations effectively, especially under shifting scope or timeline pressures.

Required Qualifications

- 10 to 15+ years of experience shipping production software, with hands-on expertise in GenAI, large language models (LLM), and agentic solution development.
- Full-stack proficiency across GenAI application layers, including orchestration, retrieval, integration, and deployment.
- Strong debugging skills across the entire stack, including infrastructure, application code, and model behavior.
- Experience integrating solutions with enterprise systems such as single sign-on (SSO), legacy APIs, and data governance frameworks.
- Working knowledge of major agentic and GenAI platforms likely to be encountered in client environments, including Microsoft Azure AI Foundry, AWS Bedrock/Strands Agents, and Google Vertex AI.
- Familiarity with open-source alternatives like LangChain and LlamaIndex is a valuable plus, especially when clients have no specific platform preference.
- Ability to serve as the senior technical presence in meetings with client engineering teams.
- Excellent client-facing communication skills, capable of explaining technical tradeoffs clearly under time constraints.
- Proven track record of transforming ambiguous or partially specified designs into fully functioning production systems.
- Resilience and composure under the pressures of on-site, client-facing delivery with visible deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications and Additional Experience

- Prior experience in forward-deployed roles, startups, or embedded consulting engagements is highly advantageous.
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and manage complex delivery pods within fast-paced environments.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work closely with clients on cutting-edge AI technologies, driving innovation from concept to live deployment while navigating complex technical and organizational challenges.