AI Forward Deployed Engineer
- Location
- Washington
- Workplace
- Hybrid
- Compensation
- $160k – $250k + equity
About this role
We are looking for an AI Forward Deployed Engineer with up to 10 years of experience to build and deploy cutting-edge agentic AI systems for high-impact U.S. Government missions. You'll own the full lifecycle of production-grade AI — from prototype to deployment — working 80% hands-on in engineering and 20% directly with strategic government partners in the field.
What will you be doing?
Build and deploy agentic AI systems (LLMs, multi-agent, RAG, human-in-the-loop) from prototype to production for U.S. Government missions.
Work directly with government partners in forward-deployed environments to translate mission needs into real technical systems.
Design and maintain large-scale data curation, evaluation, and ML infrastructure pipelines.
Own systems across the full lifecycle — architecture, implementation, deployment, reliability, and iteration.
Build new AI systems (not maintain legacy code) that turn mission data and models into operational autonomy.
Key Requirements
Strong Python engineering skills with end-to-end ownership experience.
Hands-on experience building and deploying LLM-powered agentic systems.
Experience building or maintaining data pipelines or ML infrastructure.
Ability to operate independently in ambiguous, partner-facing environments.
Formal degree in a technical field; no active security clearance required on day one (sponsorship available).
What happens next
Skip the application pile. I get you in front of the people who decide.
Confirm the fit
A few questions to make sure this role is the right shape for you. Two minutes.
I pitch you to the company
I write the intro, send it to the founder, and handle the back-and-forth.
A meeting lands on your calendar
When the company wants to meet, I get the call on your calendar. You just show up.
Culture & values
Remote-first culture
Values high performance and technical excellence
Mission-driven work environment
Small, high-ownership team with minimal management layers
Culture built for engineers who thrive in ambiguity and autonomy
End-to-end ownership of systems from discovery through deployment
Fast-moving startup mentality
Forward-deployed model with engineers embedded directly with U.S. Government partners
High trust and high ownership culture with real responsibility from day one
Small and tight-knit team with direct access to leadership and CEO
Engineers expected to operate independently in complex, high-stakes environments
Motivated by impact on national security missions and broader societal goals
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