Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)
This is a ground-floor role on a brand-new practice. HelixFwd is 3Pillar's forward-deployed AI practice, and you'd be one of the first engineers in it, setting the technical patterns everyone after you inherits, with a real path to owning a portfolio of accounts as the practice grows.
HelixFwd is 3Pillar's forward-deployed practice for Agentic AI Systems. We pair engineers directly with clients to find and build the production AI workflows worth automating: scoping hands you a lead, not a locked spec, and your job is to confirm it, refine it, or find something better through real discovery. As a Forward Deployed AI Engineer, you'll own the AI system itself, the agent, retrieval pipeline, or model-driven workflow, as the client deliverable. You'll work solo or paired with a Technical Product Manager, and ship production systems in weeks, not pilots that stall after the demo.
Key Responsibilities
- Embed on-site or in tight virtual proximity with client teams for the life of the engagement, and identify the highest-leverage workflow to build first, then the next.
- Build, test, and harden production-grade integrations (APIs, MCP connectors, data pipelines) directly against client systems.
- Own the last mile: deployment, monitoring, user adoption, and iteration based on real usage, not just proof-of-concept handoff.
- Run build-measure-learn cycles with client stakeholders, translating ambiguous business problems into scoped technical solutions.
- Act as a trusted technical counterpart to client engineering leads and executive sponsors; communicate tradeoffs in business terms.
- Contribute reusable patterns, connectors, and accelerators back to HelixAI (Atlas, Nexus, AIRE) for future engagements.
What Good Judgment Looks Like Here
• Simplifies complexity fast: turns a messy client environment into a clear, sequenced plan without waiting for a full spec.
• Decides soundly under pressure and owns the call, rather than escalating everything or waiting to be told what to do.
• Writes production code directly when that's what moves the engagement forward. This isn't an architecture-only or advisory seat.
• Spots risk early and adapts, rather than discovering a blocker after it's already cost the engagement time.
• Turns what's learned in the field into something reusable, not a one-off fix for one client.
Core Qualifications
8+ years of professional software engineering experience, including 2+ years building and shipping production AI systems (not prototypes).
• Depth in retrieval architecture (RAG), agent orchestration/tool-use patterns, and evaluation pipeline design.
• Strong Python proficiency, with production experience using LangChain and/or LangGraph.
• Hands-on AWS experience across core compute, storage, and AI/ML services (e.g., Bedrock, Lambda, S3).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and ambiguously in a client-facing, field environment.
• Hands-on experience integrating with enterprise systems via APIs, webhooks, or connector frameworks.
• Prior experience in a forward-deployed, solutions engineering, or field engineering role.
- Travel requirement for client site visits in US - up to 50% of the role.
Nice to have
• Experience with agentic SDLC methodologies and AI-assisted development tooling (Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or equivalents).
• Familiarity with RBAC, audit logging, and governance requirements for regulated or enterprise clients.
• Background in a specific vertical (financial services, asset management, healthcare, etc.).
What is it like working for 3Pillar Global?
Career growth and development
Physical and mental wellbeing: As a company, we spend a whole trimester in our annual cycle focused on wellbeing. Whether it is taking advantage of fitness offerings, mental health plans (country-dependent), or simply leveraging unlimited PTO to take some needed time off, we want all of our team members operating at their best.
Living our value for Intrinsic Dignity as an equal opportunity employer.
Comprehensive US/Regional benefits packages including company-funded healthcare options, parental leave, and company-paid disability/life insurance.
At 3Pillar Global, we are the power behind the brands you know. We are hiring new team members to assist us in continuing our growth trajectory as a fast growing global team of thousands of professionals. New Leaders will live our shared values of Intrinsic Dignity, Open Collaboration, Outsized Impact, and Continuous Improvement everyday to harness The Power of Team and deliver exceptional products and services for our clients.
We support the comprehensive wellbeing of our team members, through:
At 3Pillar, we create an environment where people can do their best work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
- Flexibility & Well-being – Our remote-first approach gives you the flexibility to work where you perform best, while prioritizing your well-being and personal commitments.
- Global Community – Collaborate with talented colleagues across the globe in a culture built on connection, support, and shared success.
- Your Voice Matters – We foster open communication and multiple feedback channels, ensuring every employee has the opportunity to be heard and make an impact.
- Growth & Development – Gain exposure to diverse clients, industries, and challenges that accelerate learning and career growth.
Our culture is guided by four core values: Collaboration, Outperform, Respect, and Evolve—the principles that shape how we work, grow, and succeed together.
Skills Required
- Senior or Staff-level engineering background with production-grade systems experience
- Mastery of modern backend environments (such as Python)
- Environment configuration management experience
- Experience with complex API and system integration patterns
- Deep engineering competence with at least one major cloud (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)
- Experience designing and implementing AI workflows
- Strong consultative communication and client-facing problem solving
- Ability to quickly understand unfamiliar codebases and begin committing production-quality code
What We Do
3Pillar Global builds breakthrough software products that power digital businesses. 3Pillar is an innovative product development partner whose solutions drive rapid revenue, market share, and customer growth for industry leaders in Software and SaaS, Media and Publishing, Information Services, and Retail. Leveraging a lean and agile approach, 3Pillar delivers value-generating, digital solutions with specialized product strategy and management, user experience design, as well as software and data engineering expertise across mobile, cloud, and disruptive technologies.
