Forward Deployed Engineer

Forward Deployed Engineer | Physical AI / Computer Vision

We're partnering with a well-capitalized, high-growth physical AI company serving some of the world's largest manufacturing, logistics, and industrial companies to find Forward Deployed Engineers to join their field team.

This is a 0-to-1 role: you'll embed directly with strategic customers, taking validated computer vision proof-of-concepts to production on the factory floor. You'll own the messy realities of real-world deployment - lighting variability, camera calibration, model drift, edge hardware constraints - and be the bridge between what customers say they need and what they actually need.

What you'll do

• Embed on-site with customers (25-50% travel) to drive the critical POC-to-production phase
• Build data pipelines, configure edge devices, and deploy CV models in real physical environments (factories, warehouses, construction sites)
• Feed field insights back to Product and Engineering
• Write production-grade Python and handle systems-level work (Docker, Kubernetes, networking, Linux)
• Document deployment architectures and runbooks, then hand off to Implementation Engineers

What we're looking for

• 1-8 years in forward deployed, field, solutions architect, or customer-facing software engineering roles
• Track record owning a technical deployment end-to-end - from 0-to-1 build through adoption and post-deployment maintenance
• Strong Python proficiency and systems-level experience
• Automation, mechanical, or industrial engineering background with strong software skills is a plus
• BS in CS, Engineering, or related technical field
• Comfortable communicating and building trust with executives, engineers, and floor operators
• Background in manufacturing, logistics, automotive, or robotics (nice to have), familiarity with MLOps/CV tooling (nice to have)
• Midwest location (Chicago, Indianapolis) strongly preferred

Compensation & benefits

$144K-$200K base ($180K-$250K OTE, uncapped variable) plus equity, strong health benefits, travel and productivity stipends, and remote-first flexibility with relocation support.