Forward Deployed Engineer

Location: Chicago, IL Work Model: Hybrid / office-first, ideally 4 days per week in office Industry: Applied AI / Enterprise Software / Financial Services Compensation: $110,000 base salary plus performance-based bonus About the Company Our partner is a fast-growing applied AI company building software and embedded solutions for sophisticated enterprise customers in the financial services ecosystem. This is a small, highly technical team with strong early traction, an office-first and collaborative culture, and a clear focus on execution. The environment is fast-paced, hands-on, and well suited for people who want meaningful ownership, close customer exposure, and the opportunity to grow quickly alongside the business. The Opportunity Our partner is hiring an Applied AI Engineer to help deliver AI-enabled products directly within customer environments while also contributing to internal tools and product development. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working close to real users, translating ambiguous business problems into technical solutions, and building products that have immediate impact. The position offers a high level of ownership from day one. You will typically support one or more customer‑facing projects, partner closely with internal engineers, and help shape how solutions are built and deployed. Over time, there is meaningful opportunity to take on broader leadership responsibilities, including owning customer relationships and helping scale delivery across additional engagements. Responsibilities Build and deploy AI‑enabled software solutions for enterprise customers Work closely with customer stakeholders to understand needs, translate requirements, and deliver technical solutions Own execution of one or more customer‑facing product initiatives from concept through delivery Collaborate with internal engineering teammates on architecture, implementation, and problem‑solving Contribute to internal product and prototype development when customer work allows Communicate technical work clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences Use modern AI‑assisted development tools and workflows in day‑to‑day engineering work Support a fast‑moving, collaborative team environment with a high degree of accountability Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a closely related technical field strongly preferred Professional software engineering experience with the ability to build and ship production‑quality applications Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non‑technical stakeholders Comfort working directly with customers in a client‑facing environment Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a fast‑paced setting Interest in applied AI, product development, and solving real‑world workflow problems Experience in financial services or familiarity with finance‑related environments is a plus Experience using modern AI development tools or working on AI‑enabled products is a plus Must be able to work in Chicago on an office‑first schedule; relocation may be considered for highly qualified candidates Work authorization in the United States is required; sponsorship is not available for this role #J-18808-Ljbffr