The Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) is a hands-on role embedded within AHEAD's internal AI transformation function. You will design, build, and run production AI applications on enterprise GPT platforms, including custom agents, workflows, connectors, and integrations. You will operate as the technical build resource within a cross-functional delivery team, partnering closely with business stakeholders, a transformation consultant, and an adoption lead to support one of AHEAD’s key domains, such as Services, Go-to-Market, or Corporate & Technology. This person owns the full solution lifecycle from discovery and design through build, rollout, optimization, and ongoing support.
This role is well suited for someone who enjoys working directly with business teams, translating ambiguous needs into practical AI-enabled solutions, and building production AI patterns such as orchestration, model integration, evaluation, observability, and secure enterprise deployment. Success in the role requires comfort working inside a shared team model where solution design, user adoption, and business outcomes are delivered in close coordination rather than in isolation.
Duties/Responsibilities
Design and ship agents and multi-step workflows using Glean, Claude, and other GPT platforms and applying platform tools such as Agent Builder, actions, MCP tools, and adjacent automations (e.g., n8n, Zapier, Make)
Apply AI solution patterns such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), workflow orchestration, agent-assisted processes, model integration, API-based automation, and human-in-the-loop review
Create connections to ingest data from enterprise systems like Salesforce, ServiceNow, SharePoint/Teams, email, and internal APIs
Extend platform capabilities through MCP-based integrations and context-aware workflows that improve the usefulness and reach of AI solutions
Implement custom services and integrations, including REST APIs and webhooks, when platform-native patterns or existing automations are not sufficient
Ensure solutions are secure, reliable, observable, and compliant with enterprise standards
Create reusable templates, components, and solution patterns that can be applied across teams and use cases
Proactively surface pain points across business workflows and reimagine them leveraging the best available technology to create impact
Rapidly prototype, validate with real users, and harden MVPs into scalable, production solutions
Partner with stakeholders to prioritize high-impact use cases based on business value, feasibility, risk, and repeatability, with a focus on scalable solutions rather than one-offs
Measure and communicate the value of solutions delivered, including time saved, errors reduced, adoption, reliability, and operational performance
Apply production LLM practices: prompt and agent design, guardrails, and evaluation
Use test sets, quality metrics, and offline or online evaluation methods to improve solution performance over time
Instrument usage, reliability, and token/credit consumption at the agent and team level
Use data to improve quality and reduce unnecessary spend (context scoping, summarization, caching, model choice)
Build on the Enterprise GPT Platforms
Integrate & Orchestrate
Identify & Solve Business Friction Points
Own LLM Quality, Telemetry & Cost
Required Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Data and Analytics
Experience in technical roles such as Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Engineer, Integration Engineer, Automation Engineer, or similar roles with direct stakeholder engagement
Experience designing or supporting AI-enabled solutions in production environments, prompting and system design, agent development, and workflow configuration
Familiarity with evaluation approaches such as test sets, quality metrics, and iterative improvement loops
Working knowledge of AI solution patterns such as retrieval-augmented generation, orchestration, model integration, vector-backed retrieval, and human-in-the-loop workflows
Ability to configure existing connectors to access required data
Experience integrating enterprise applications using APIs, webhooks, automation tools, or lightweight services
Familiarity with observability, monitoring, governance, guardrails, and responsible AI controls in enterprise environments
Preferred Experience
Familiarity with common business systems such as Salesforce, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, ServiceNow, ticketing or ITSM platforms, and CRM or ERP tools
Hands-on experience with Enterprise GPT platforms (e.g., Glean, Claude) and automation tools (e.g., n8n, Zapier, Make)
Familiarity with enterprise security concepts such as RBAC, least privilege, SSO, SAML, OAuth, OIDC, and auditability
Experience working in cross-functional delivery teams that pair solution building with business process transformation, user enablement, and change support
How You Work
Operate as a builder and long-term advisor, not just an implementer
Comfortable being embedded with business teams while upholding platform and security standards
Communicate clearly with executives and non-technical stakeholders about trade-offs, risks, and impact
Move fast on prototypes, but know when to slow down for risk, security, or cost
Stay current on the cutting edge of AI — new models, MCP developments, agentic frameworks, and emerging tooling — and bring relevant innovations back to AHEAD
Continuously scan the business for friction points and unmet needs; show up with ideas, not just execution
Work effectively as part of a small, embedded team where technical build, business problem framing, and adoption support are closely coordinated
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Data and Analytics
- Experience in technical roles such as Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Engineer, Integration Engineer, Automation Engineer, or similar with direct stakeholder engagement
- Experience designing or supporting AI-enabled solutions in production, including prompting, agent development, and workflow configuration
- Familiarity with evaluation approaches: test sets, quality metrics, and iterative improvement loops
- Working knowledge of AI solution patterns: retrieval-augmented generation, orchestration, model integration, vector-backed retrieval, human-in-the-loop workflows
- Ability to configure existing connectors to access required data
- Experience integrating enterprise applications using APIs, webhooks, automation tools, or lightweight services
- Familiarity with observability, monitoring, governance, guardrails, and responsible AI controls in enterprise environments
- Familiarity with common business systems such as Salesforce, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, ServiceNow, ticketing or ITSM platforms, CRM or ERP tools
- Hands-on experience with Enterprise GPT platforms (e.g., Glean, Claude) and automation tools (e.g., n8n, Zapier, Make)
- Familiarity with enterprise security concepts such as RBAC, least privilege, SSO, SAML, OAuth, OIDC, and auditability
- Experience working in cross-functional delivery teams that combine solution building with process transformation and adoption support
AHEAD Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about AHEAD and has not been reviewed or approved by AHEAD.
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Retirement Support — 401(k) contributions are matched dollar-for-dollar on the first $5,000 each year, with matching made each pay period and immediate 100% vesting. This structure signals above-standard employer support for retirement savings.
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Affordable Benefits — Medical options include low employee premiums for PPO and HDHP plans, and the HDHP adds employer HSA funding plus a dollar-for-dollar HSA match up to stated amounts. Dental and vision plans list very low per-paycheck costs, helping keep overall healthcare spend manageable.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — No-cost telemedicine (including virtual mental health when enrolled), free Calm access for the employee and dependents, and an EAP with counseling are included. Company-paid life and disability plus voluntary protections (legal/ID, pet insurance) and other extras round out a comprehensive set of supports.
AHEAD Insights
What We Do
AHEAD builds platforms for digital business. By weaving together cloud infrastructure, intelligent operations, and modern applications, we help enterprises deliver on the promise of digital transformation.
