Forward deployed engineer

Root; Oost-Vlaanderen; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Aikido seeks a forward-deployed engineer to help enterprise customers deploy and operationalize our AI-powered pentest product across diverse environments.

You will own deployments, debug in customer environments, and build integrations like SSO and PKI while addressing complex network and security constraints.

Qualifications

• Experience deploying for enterprise environments.
• Strong debugging in Linux and cloud integrations.
• Ability to read Go/TypeScript/Python to trace issues.
• Excellent written and spoken communication.

Responsibilities

• Own enterprise deployments end-to-end: from first install to a stable, healthy setup
• Debug incidents directly in customer environments (Docker, Postgres, networking, agents, etc.)
• Handle complex enterprise environments: proxies, firewalls, egress rules, internal CAs, air-gapped setups
• Build and adapt integrations when needed (SSO, IdP, internal PKI, custom setups)
• Guide customers through implementation and initial usage in complex environments
• React to gaps in our system by engaging in R&D to enhance our agentic workflows
• Act as the technical bridge between customers and engineering
• Translate enterprise deployment issues into clear bugs, fixes, and product improvements
• Build SOTA interpretability for offensive agent behavior: reversing traces, quirks, and unexpected behavior

Skills

Docker

Postgres

Networking

TLS

Proxies

Firewalls

Linux

Go

TypeScript

Python

SSO

IdP

PKI

Logging

Distributed systems

Communication

Tools

DNS

Job description

We’re making security suck less for developers.

Security tools haven’t kept up with how software is built today. They interrupt teams, slow releases, and turn security into a bottleneck instead of a capability. We built Aikido to change that. Aikido builds developer-first security products that reduce real risk without getting in the way of shipping software. We focus on what actually matters and automate the rest.

We’re taking on legacy security tools teams have been stuck with, and we’re winning. If you want to help us take market share and build products developers actually enjoy using, you’re in the right place.

Founded in 2022 by third-time founders, Aikido has $85M in the bank and a long runway ahead. We’re building toward self-securing software. Join an all-star team. Take real ownership. Push boundaries. Build things that matter.
We’re looking for a forward-deployed engineer to help enterprise customers successfully deploy and operationalize our newly launched AI-powered pentest product into their environments.

Some deployments run fully on-prem. Others involve hybrid cloud setups, strict security controls, custom integrations, or heavily regulated enterprise environments. You’ll own everything from “customer signed” to “deployment running smoothly”, helping customers through implementation, debugging issues, and turning problems into product improvements.

Responsibilities

• Own enterprise deployments end-to-end: from first install to a stable, healthy setup

• Debug incidents directly in customer environments (Docker, Postgres, networking, agents, etc.)

• Handle complex enterprise environments: proxies, firewalls, egress rules, internal CAs, air-gapped setups, and custom security requirements

• Build and adapt integrations when needed (SSO, IdP, internal PKI, custom setups)

• Guide customers through implementation and initial usage in complex environments

• React to gaps in our system by engaging in R&D to enhance our agentic workflows

• Act as the technical bridge between customers and engineering

• Translate enterprise deployment issues into clear bugs, fixes, and product improvements

• Build SOTA interpretability for offensive agent behavior: reversing traces, quirks, and unexpected behavior

• Strong infrastructure and networking fundamentals (Docker, DNS, TLS, proxies, firewalls)

• Comfortable debugging in Linux environments

• Able to read Go, TypeScript, or Python to understand issues and trace problems

• Familiar with how complex enterprise networks behave in practice

• Basic offensive security knowledge: understand concepts like RCE, SSRF, and session handling

• Able to interpret logs and debug distributed systems’ behavior

• Strong communication skills

Nice to have:

• Experience with enterprise or on-prem software deployments

• Familiarity with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) for hybrid setups

• Experience with SSO, identity providers, or internal PKI systems

• Being a former pentester or having professional experience in application security

What you can expect:

• High-impact position in a fast-growing company.

• Competitive salary package.

• A company that sticks to its values in an open and informal atmosphere (see our culture page on the website for more details).

• A diverse and inclusive organization that is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer.

• Flexibility in working hours

We value competencies above all. The qualities of our people are what count, irrespective of gender, religion, ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability.