Forward Deployed Engineer
We’re supporting a client with the recruitment requirement outlined below. If your recruiting expertise and networks align with the role, please apply to express your interest.
Once approved to work on the opportunity, you’ll receive the full brief, including the client name, role details, and commercial terms.
Role Details
Location: San Francisco, California
Industry: AI and logistics
Salary: $125,000–$175,000 per year
Equity: 0.3%–0.7%
Employment: Full-time, in-office, 5 days per week
Experience: 3+ years
Visa Sponsorship: Limited
About the Company
An early-stage AI startup is developing a platform that helps logistics and supply chain companies automate complex operational workflows using AI agents. Its platform supports businesses across freight forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing, trucking, and third-party logistics.
The company focuses on turning customer needs into reusable product capabilities rather than building separate, one-off solutions.
About the Role
The Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) bridges customers and the engineering team. You’ll work closely with customers to understand their operations, identify bottlenecks, configure the platform, and implement solutions that improve workflows. You’ll also share customer insights with the product team to guide future development.
This is a hands-on, customer-facing engineering role that combines technical problem-solving, relationship-building, and product development.
Responsibilities
Lead customer projects from discovery and solution design through deployment and optimization.
Work with executives and end users to understand business needs and operational challenges.
Configure the platform, onboard new use cases, and develop features that improve customer workflows.
Translate recurring customer needs into reusable core product capabilities.
Share customer insights with the product team to inform product strategy and the roadmap.
Support product reliability and troubleshoot technical issues.
Requirements
At least 3 years of relevant experience, ideally in a customer-facing engineering role.
Strong technical aptitude and the ability to read and write Python, Node.js, and Next.js.
Understanding of data-driven architectures.
Excellent communication skills and a track record of building strong B2B relationships.
Ability to conduct effective discovery, identify underlying business problems, and develop appropriate solutions.
Strong problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments.
Willingness to work in person in San Francisco five days per week.
Interest in logistics and supply chain is beneficial.
Experience deploying comparable systems for similar customers is a strong advantage.
Benefits
Daily team dinners.
Travel stipend.
Health, vision, and dental insurance.
Interview Process
Initial Call: 10–15 minutes with the CEO.
Technical Screen
On-site Interview
Offer and Hiring
🌍 Remote from anywhere in the globe
Workplace, Culture & Diversity
Corporate culture is essential to allow the organization to differentiate itself. In terms of image on the one hand, it has strengths both internally and externally to consumers. It is indeed a source of cohesion and motivation of employees and it limits conflicts. With customers, it conveys a positive image and can develop a feeling of closeness to the company or even become a criterion of choice.
About Fractal Talent
We Are Fractal Talent, a global community of freelance and fractional recruiters. We provide recruiting expertise to our clients as a virtual extension of their teams, deployed on an embedded, project or per role basis, and matched to client need. Top tier quality, unrivalled flexibility.
If you're a recruiter, come join a community that acts as your outsourced sales function. We align your skills to our clients - with the aim to enrich quality recruiters and enable a far greater flexibility in how you manage your career.