Forward Deployed Engineer

AHEAD builds platforms for digital business. By weaving together advances in cloud infrastructure, automation and analytics, and software delivery, we help enterprises deliver on the promise of digital transformation.At AHEAD, we prioritize creating a culture of belonging, where all perspectives and voices are represented, valued, respected, and heard. We create spaces to empower everyone to speak up, make change, and drive the culture at AHEAD.We are an equal opportunity employer, and do not discriminate based on an individual's race, national origin, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law, whether actual or perceived.We embrace all candidates that will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives at AHEAD.The Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) is a hands-on role embedded within AHEAD's internal AI transformation function. You will design, build, and run production AI applications on enterprise GPT platforms, including custom agents, workflows, connectors, and integrations. You will operate as the technical build resource within a cross-functional delivery team, partnering closely with business stakeholders, a transformation consultant, and an adoption lead to support one of AHEAD's key domains, such as Services, Go-to-Market, or Corporate & Technology. This person owns the full solution lifecycle from discovery and design through build, rollout, optimization, and ongoing support.This role is well suited for someone who enjoys working directly with business teams, translating ambiguous needs into practical AI-enabled solutions, and building production AI patterns such as orchestration, model integration, evaluation, observability, and secure enterprise deployment. Success in the role requires comfort working inside a shared team model where solution design, user adoption, and business outcomes are delivered in close coordination rather than in isolation.Duties/ResponsibilitiesBuild on the Enterprise GPT PlatformsDesign and ship agents and multi-step workflows using Glean, Claude, and other GPT platforms and applying platform tools such as Agent Builder, actions, MCP tools, and adjacent automations (e.g., n8n, Zapier, Make)Apply AI solution patterns such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), workflow orchestration, agent-assisted processes, model integration, API-based automation, and human-in-the-loop reviewIntegrate & OrchestrateCreate connections to ingest data from enterprise systems like Salesforce, ServiceNow, SharePoint/Teams, email, and internal APIsExtend platform capabilities through MCP-based integrations and context-aware workflows that improve the usefulness and reach of AI solutionsImplement custom services and integrations, including REST APIs and webhooks, when platform-native patterns or existing automations are not sufficientEnsure solutions are secure, reliable, observable, and compliant with enterprise standardsCreate reusable templates, components, and solution patterns that can be applied across teams and use casesIdentify & Solve Business Friction PointsProactively surface pain points across business workflows and reimagine them leveraging the best available technology to create impactRapidly prototype, validate with real users, and harden MVPs into scalable, production solutionsPartner with stakeholders to prioritize high-impact use cases based on business value, feasibility, risk, and repeatability, with a focus on scalable solutions rather than one-offsMeasure and communicate the value of solutions delivered, including time saved, errors reduced, adoption, reliability, and operational performanceOwn LLM Quality, Telemetry & CostApply production LLM practices: prompt and agent design, guardrails, and evaluationUse test sets, quality metrics, and offline or online evaluation methods to improve solution performance over timeInstrument usage, reliability, and token/credit consumption at the agent and team levelUse data to improve quality and reduce unnecessary spend (context scoping, summarization, caching, model choice)Required ExperienceBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Data and AnalyticsExperience in technical roles such as Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Engineer, Integration Engineer, Automation Engineer, or similar roles with direct stakeholder engagementExperience designing or supporting AI-enabled solutions in production environments, prompting and system design, agent development, and workflow configurationFamiliarity with evaluation approaches such as test sets, quality metrics, and iterative improvement loopsWorking knowledge of AI solution patterns such as retrieval-augmented generation, orchestration, model integration, vector-backed retrieval, and human-in-the-loop workflowsAbility to configure existing connectors to access required dataExperience integrating enterprise applications using APIs, webhooks, automation tools, or lightweight servicesFamiliarity with observability, monitoring, governance, guardrails, and responsible AI controls in enterprise environmentsPreferred ExperienceFamiliarity with common business systems such as Salesforce, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, ServiceNow, ticketing or ITSM platforms, and CRM or ERP toolsHands-on experience with Enterprise GPT platforms (e.g., Glean, Claude) and automation tools (e.g., n8n, Zapier, Make)Familiarity with enterprise security concepts such as RBAC, least privilege, SSO, SAML, OAuth, OIDC, and auditabilityExperience working in cross-functional delivery teams that pair solution building with business process transformation, user enablement, and change supportHow You WorkOperate as a builder and long-term advisor, not just an implementerComfortable being embedded with business teams while upholding platform and security standardsCommunicate clearly with executives and non-technical stakeholders about trade-offs, risks, and impactMove fast on prototypes, but know when to slow down for risk, security, or costStay current on the cutting edge of AI - new models, MCP developments, agentic frameworks, and emerging tooling - and bring relevant innovations back to AHEADContinuously scan the business for friction points and unmet needs; show up with ideas, not just executionWork effectively as part of a small, embedded team where technical build, business problem framing, and adoption support are closely coordinatedThe compensation range indicated in this posting reflects the On-Target Earnings ("OTE") for this role, which includes a base salary and any applicable target bonus amount. This OTE range may vary based on the candidate's relevant experience, qualifications, and geographic location.Why AHEAD:Through our daily work and internal groups like Moving Women AHEAD and RISE AHEAD, we value and benefit from diversity of people, ideas, experience, and everything in between.We fuel growth by stacking our office with top-notch technologies in a multi-million-dollar lab, by encouraging cross department training and development, sponsoring certifications and credentials for continued learning.USA Employment Benefits include:- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance- 401(k)