Forward Deployed Engineer

Benmore Technologies partners with non-technical founders and SMBs to take software products from idea to MVP and beyond. Our process centers on discovery, clear scope, and deliverable-based development, with AI-native workflows and modern stacks.

We believe that everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work, which is why we are proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity workplace. 

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability status, gender identity or Veteran status. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected] Please see the United States Department of Labor's Know Your Rights poster for additional information. We comply with the United States Department of Labor's Pay Transparency provision. 

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About the Role
 

As a Forward-Deployed Engineer, you’ll be the technical owner on client engagements from kick-off through MVP delivery. You’ll sit at the intersection of product, engineering, and the client: translating vision into scope, shaping system architecture, de-risking unknowns, and shipping working software. You are hands-on full-stack, comfortable in discovery rooms and code reviews alike, and you’ve taken products from zero-to-one (ideally as a founder or first engineer).
 

What You’ll Do
 

* Lead technical discovery: turn fuzzy requirements into crisp problem statements, user flows, and a prioritized MVP scope.

* Own architecture decisions: choose pragmatic stacks, design data models, integration plans, and deployment patterns with scale and cost in mind.

* Manage development teams: oversee a small group of senior engineers who implement the solutions you design with clients, ensuring delivery matches the intended architecture and technical vision.

* Ship software: implement critical paths across the stack (frontend, backend, integrations), review PRs, and uphold engineering quality.

* Interface with clients: run weekly technical checkpoints, present prototypes, handle tradeoffs, and maintain alignment on scope and timelines.

* De-risk delivery: identify unknowns early, run spikes/POCs, define acceptance criteria, and manage scope boundaries to prevent churn.

* Document and handoff: produce lightweight but thorough technical docs (architecture notes, API maps, etc) that enable smooth iteration.
 

Must-Have Qualifications
 

* Demonstrable excellence building production web/mobile software with modern stacks.

* Strong full-stack capability (preferebly Django, however other stacks may suffice).

* Comfortable with databases (PostgreSQL preferred) and cloud (DigitalOcean/AWS/Azure) and CI/CD fundamentals.

* Experience integrating common APIs and services (auth, payments like Stripe, email/SMS, file storage, maps, etc.).

* Proven zero-to-one execution: shipped an MVP or v1 as a founder, first engineer, or equivalent owner.

* Excellent client-facing communication: can explain tradeoffs, write clear specs, and run structured technical meetings.

* Ability to communicate effectively and work well with others in a fast paced environment

Nice-to-Have

* AI/LLM experience (prompting, retrieval, embeddings, model selection, vendor integrations).

* Mobile (React Native or Flutter).

* Prior consulting experience.

Compensation & Benefits
 

For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in Chicago is: $80,000 - $100,000 USD

* Competitive salary + performance bonus with benefits.

* High energy office environment in Chicago.

PLEASE NOTE: Our policy requires a 90-day waiting period before reconsidering candidates for the same role. This allows us to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation of all applicants.