Contract Forward Deployed Engineer — Client-Facing AI Proofs

Hedgehog Lab; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Hedgehog Lab is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to lead the earliest stage of a client engagement. You will be the first engineer on the project, working directly with clients to define what is possible and how to scale a delivery team from that foundation.

This contract role emphasizes hands-on work, with strong autonomy to choose tools and approaches. Remote with occasional in-person client sessions within 50 miles of Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester or London.

Qualifications

• Real experience using AI agents to build production software.
• A track record of breaking down poorly defined problems and shipping something that works.
• Strong TypeScript or Python across the full stack with modern frameworks.
• Experience directly presenting to clients and stakeholders.
• Clear written communication and ADRs/docs.

Responsibilities

• Turn client goals into solution architecture and technology choices.
• Build proofs of concept that validate design and enable handoff.
• Define the agentic engineering pipeline, tooling and guardrails.
• Set quality approach, including testing and code review.
• Transfer knowledge through pairing and documenting patterns.

Skills

AI agents

Problem solving

TypeScript

Python

Client communication

Documentation

Consulting

Tools

NestJS

FastAPI

Job description

Hedgehog Lab is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to lead the earliest stage of a client engagement. You will be the first engineer on the project, working directly with clients to define what is possible and how to scale a delivery team from that foundation.

This contract role emphasizes hands-on work, with strong autonomy to choose tools and approaches. Remote with occasional in-person client sessions within 50 miles of Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester or London.