> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2720631-forward-deployed-engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2720631-forward-deployed-engineers). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Forward Deployed Engineers - **Company:** Idler's, Inc. - **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Software Debugging, Python (Programming Language), TypeScript, Build Tools, Programming Languages - **Published:** September 4, 2026 - **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/forward-deployed-engineer-idler-ai-9771623 ## About the Role * Grit, coupled with good judgement - you're comfortable operating in ambiguous, high-intensity environments. You're independent and resourceful, but you know when you should ask for help before acting. * Meticulous attention to detail - you would rather find and fix the problems in your work than let someone else discover them for you. * Ownership mindset - you take responsibility for results, not just tasks. * Global curiosity - you explore far beyond your scope, and you easily make connections between topics which are not obviously related. Requirements * Strong engineering foundation from a rigorous technical environment. * Advanced in at least one modern programming language (Python, TypeScript, or similar), with experience writing and debugging production systems. * Extraordinary literacy, as evidenced by written and verbal communication. You can hold your own with senior researchers and non-technical executives alike. * A track record of exceptional performance in whatever you've pursued - academic, athletic, professional, or entrepreneurial. * A high tolerance for ambiguity, intensity, and sustained effort when the problem demands it. * Willingness to travel. You might excel if you… * Have worked at an early-stage startup, or in a role where you operated well beyond your job description. * Learn quickly by being embedded in challenging, real-world environments. * Have thought seriously about starting your own company. ## Description Forward Deployed Engineers are heavily customer and partner-facing technical experts who own the entire system that turns our partners' real work into evals & RL environments. You'll work directly with researchers at top AI labs to understand how they measure and train their models, identifying capability gaps and proposing what we should build next. You'll establish and maintain partnerships with leaders of companies, civil institutions, and research labs, and you'll build reusable, robust technical infrastructure to model entire organizations' workflows to a high degree of precision. This role combines hands-on technical work, customer & partner management, and rapid execution. You'll switch context frequently and stay ahead of issues before they become blockers. You're expected to employ sophisticated systems-level thinking, make sound judgment calls, and take ownership of outcomes. In this role, you will: * Own the end to end product pipeline - you will maintain a clear, complete model of customer demand and partnership opportunities, and you will directly shape our product roadmap. * Manage both the technical AND relational sides of the customer and partner lifecycles - you will build the tooling you need to manage relationships successfully, while also advocating for customers' and partners' needs with the rest of the team. * Build systems rather than one-off solutions - every customer or partner onboarding should be easier than the last because you built the tooling that made it so. ## Related Videos - [Do TypeScript without TypeScript](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/327-do-typescript-without-typescript) - [Modern Data Architectures need Software Engineering](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1030-modern-data-architectures-need-software-engineering) - [Using AI Without Losing Your Skills](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2045-using-ai-without-losing-your-skills) - [The Intent Engineer: Closing the Gap Between Business & Engineering - Manuel Klein](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1855-the-intent-engineer-closing-the-gap-between-business-engineering-manuel-klein) - [Vuejs and TypeScript- Working Together like Peanut Butter and Jelly](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/127-vuejs-and-typescript-working-together-like-peanut-butter-and-jelly) - [Engineering culture: Why ownership is the secret ingredient](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/184-engineering-culture-why-ownership-is-the-secret-ingredient) ## Related Articles - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Top Characteristics of a Software Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/166-top-characteristics-of-a-software-engineer) - [How to Answer the Interview Question: “Why Do You Want to Be a Software Engineer?”](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/392-how-to-answer-the-interview-question-why-do-you-want-to-be-a-software-engineer) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [What is Software Engineering in the Age of AI?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/640-what-is-software-engineering-in-the-age-of-ai)