Forward Deployed Software Engineer - London
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for skilled software engineers who can deploy AI solutions has grown significantly, with a 25% increase in job postings over the past year. Openai's Forward Deployed Engineering team is at the forefront of this trend, partnering with customers to turn research breakthroughs into production systems. With a focus on customer delivery and core platform development, this role requires a unique blend of technical expertise and collaboration skills. As the remote job market continues to evolve, candidates with experience in AI, software development, and customer-facing roles are in high demand. Before applying, candidates should be aware of the company's commitment to AI safety and human needs, as well as its equal opportunity employment policies.
Job Description
About the Role
The Forward Deployed Software Engineer role at Openai is a unique opportunity to work with customers and develop custom software solutions that leverage the company's AI APIs. As part of the Forward Deployed Engineering team, you will be responsible for designing and implementing scalable solutions that solve real customer problems. You will work closely with the sales, solutions engineering, and customer success teams to deliver high-quality solutions that meet customer needs.The role requires a strong technical foundation, as well as excellent communication and collaboration skills. You will be working with customers to understand their business challenges and technical requirements, and then using that information to design and develop solutions that meet their needs. You will also be collaborating with the research and applied product and engineering teams to ensure that customer feedback is incorporated into the development of new products and features.
As a Forward Deployed Software Engineer, you will be embedded deeply with strategic customers, working to understand their business challenges and technical requirements in detail. You will design, architect, and develop full-stack solutions using an experiment-driven, iterative approach, and prepare detailed scopes of work and project plans for both proof-of-concept prototypes and full production deployments.
What You Will Do
- Embed deeply with strategic customers to understand their business challenges and technical requirements in detail
- Design, architect, and develop full-stack solutions using an experiment-driven, iterative approach
- Prepare detailed scopes of work and project plans for both proof-of-concept prototypes and full production deployments
- Work hands-on with customers' technical teams as a technical expert and trusted advisor, coding side-by-side to drive projects to completion on their infrastructure
- Collaborate with Product, Research and Applied teams to ensure seamless customer experiences, project success and actionable product feedback
- Contribute to internal knowledge bases, codifying best practices and sharing insights gained from customer engagements to scale the Forward Deployed Engineering function
- Design abstractions to solve customer problems, and then use them to scale our speed and quality of delivery across all Forward Deployed engagements
- Collaborate closely with Sales, Solutions Engineering, and Customer Success Managers who work on the same account
- Travel up to 50% to meet with customers and collaborate with colleagues
What We Are Looking For
- 7+ years of professional full stack engineering experience in relevant roles at tech and product-driven companies
- Customer-facing experience is highly desirable
- Former founder, or early engineer at a startup who has built a product from scratch is a plus
- Experience with relational databases like Postgres/MySQL
- Strong technical foundation in software development, including proficiency in languages such as Python, Java, or C++
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers and colleagues
- Bias for action and willingness to work iteratively with customers to deliver the right solution that solves their problem
- Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex technical problems and develop creative solutions
Nice to Have
- Experience with AI or machine learning technologies
- Knowledge of cloud-based platforms such as AWS or Azure
- Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and version control systems such as Git
- Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Opportunity to work with a leading AI research and deployment company
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment
- Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options
- Professional development opportunities, including training and education programs
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
- Comprehensive health and wellness programs
- Generous paid time off and vacation policy
How to Stand Out
- To stand out as a candidate, be prepared to provide specific examples of your experience working with customers to develop custom software solutions.
- Showcase your technical expertise by sharing examples of your work with AI APIs, relational databases, and other relevant technologies.
- Highlight your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including sales, solutions engineering, and customer success.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with Agile development methodologies and version control systems such as Git.
- Consider including a portfolio or samples of your work to demonstrate your skills and experience.
- Research the company's commitment to AI safety and human needs, and be prepared to discuss how your values align with theirs.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions during the interview process, such as what a typical day looks like in the role or what opportunities there are for professional development.
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