Director of Forward Deployed AI Engineering

Director of Forward Deployed AI Engineering As Director of Forward Deployed AI Engineering, you lead the most innovative team in the TENEX FDE organization — a dual-function group of customer-embedded engineers and AI & Data Scientists working to solve hard problems and build solutions that scale. You will define how the team engages with customers, how solutions are built and productized, and how AI-native tooling accelerates the work.This role is perfect for those already in the Sarasota, FL or Kansas City, MO metro area, or eager to join us. Immerse yourself in a high-performance environment built on integrity, innovation, and a relentless drive to protect our customers.Job Responsibilities Lead and scale the Forward Deployed AI Engineering team across its two functions: customer-embedded engineering and AI & Data ScienceOwn the team's mandate: embed in strategic customer accounts to discover problems, build high-grade solutions, and produce cross-customer intelligence that elevates the entire platformDefine the engagement model for FDE work — how engineers are assigned to accounts, how engagements are scoped, and how solutions are documented and productizedOversee the AI & Data Science function — ensuring cross-customer telemetry, threat intelligence, and detection optimization work is translated into tools that the SE&A team can operatePartner with Sales to identify strategic accounts that are candidates for FDE engagementPartner with the SE&A and Rapid Deployment teams to ensure FDE-built solutions flow back into the broader delivery modelServe as an executive-level presence with strategic customers — participating in account reviews and helping define the roadmap for embedded engagementsEvaluate new AI technologies, data science tooling, and engineering approaches that can improve team output and customer outcomesHire, develop, and retain engineers across both the FDE and AI & DS functionsReport to VP of Forward Deployed Engineering on team health, account coverage, and solution impactRequired Skills & Qualifications Technical & Industry Expertise 8+ years in technical leadership with experience in embedded engineering, professional services, or customer-facing technical rolesDeep understanding of AI/ML, data science, and cybersecurity domainsExperience building teams that work in a customer-embedded or problem-first engineering modelStrong ability to define engagement models, scoping frameworks, and delivery methodologiesProven track record partnering with Sales on strategic account identification and expansionExecutive-level communication and customer relationship management skillsExperience managing cross-functional collaboration across engineering, security, and data scienceSoft Skills Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with a bias toward actionExcellent customer-facing communication and collaboration abilitiesAbility to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance startup environmentPassion for cybersecurity, automation, and continuous improvementEducation & Certifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, GIAC certifications, Google Cloud Professional, Microsoft SC-200/AZ-500, or AWS Certified Solutions Architect are a plusWhy Join Us? Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI-driven cybersecurity technologies and next-generation security platformsCollaborate with a talented and innovative team focused on continuously improving security operationsCompetitive salary and benefits packageA culture of growth and development, with opportunities to expand your expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and engineeringBe part of building something new — TENEX's Forward Deployed Engineering organization is a greenfield opportunity to define how enterprise security is delivered at scale