Forward Deployed Engineer - EMEA

Blackshark; 's-Hertogenbosch; Hybrid; EUR 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Flexible schedule

Unlimited vacation

Health benefits

Job summary

Tulip seeks a Forward Deployed Engineer to embed with manufacturers, design and deploy frontline solutions, and drive outcomes on the Tulip platform.

You will travel up to 50% and work directly at customer sites, translating shop-floor needs into scalable, production-ready implementations.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering or a related technical field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in manufacturing or manufacturing-focused tech roles with customer exposure.
• Strong ability to translate shop-floor problems into scalable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Embed with customers to design, build, and deploy Tulip solutions on site.
• Lead OT/IT integration across MES/ERP and quality systems.
• Provide technical leadership during deployments and document learnings.
• Collaborate with product and engineering to influence roadmap.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Shop floor walk

Operations Technology

Systems integration

Project management

Customer-facing

Creative problem solving

Engineering degree

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

MES/ERP

Quality systems

PLC/automation interfaces

Job description

**This role is located 50% of the time at a client location within the assigned country**

Tulip brings modern technology and AI into manufacturing. Manufacturing accounts for almost 20% of the global economy and one in every seven workers on Earth, yet remains among the least digitized. More than a decade ago, we created the category to close that gap: AI-native software that puts cutting-edge tools directly in the hands of the people on the manufacturing front lines. Because we are human-centered and tech-obsessed, we are building a future of work where human ingenuity is amplified with the latest technology.

In January 2026 we became one of Boston's few new AI unicorns, reaching a $1.3B valuation. We're growing double digits in revenue year over year. The world's best manufacturers run on Tulip - turning inventory 10x faster, releasing gene therapies in hours instead of weeks, and training master craftspeople to forge engagement rings 5x more rapidly. Headquartered in Somerville, MA with offices in Germany, Hungary, Singapore, Japan, and Israel, we've been consistently named a World Economic Forum Global Innovator, a Gartner leader, and one of Built In Boston's "Best Places to Work."

We run the way we build: AI-forward, humanistic, and high ownership. We're looking for builders who are energized by complex problems, rapid cycles, and the unique opportunity to see their impact on a global scale.

About You:

As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you work directly with manufacturers to design, build, and deploy solutions on Tulip’s Frontline Operations Platform. You operate at the intersection of solution engineering, manufacturing operations, and customer outcomes, translating real shop-floor problems into scalable, production-ready solutions.

You will embed with customers at their facility to rapidly implement applications, integrations, and workflows that improve quality, productivity, and traceability across manufacturing operations.

What skills do I need?

Must be able to travel up to 50%

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, industrial software, or manufacturing-focused technology roles, with at least 4 years of experience in direct, customer-facing or consultant roles
• Ability to walk a shop floor and independently identify opportunities for operational improvement
• Experience with Operations Technology, including MES, ERP, quality, or production systems (Architecture and implementation experience strongly preferred)
• Experience integrating systems and devices in manufacturing environments
• Strong understanding of manufacturing workflows, quality, traceability, and operational constraints
• Proven ability to lead complex technical or operational initiatives end to end
• Strong project management, organization, and communication skills
• Comfortable and experienced in customer-facing, technically deep conversations
• Ability to think creatively and strategically while delivering practical solutions
• A demonstrated commitment to viewing problems through the customer’s lens
• Ability to learn quickly and lead by example in ambiguous environments
• BS degree in Engineering or a related technical field (or equivalent experience)

Key Responsibilities:

Customer-Embedded Solution Delivery

• Partner with plant-level and corporate stakeholders at a customer’s site (operators, engineers, IT, quality, operations leadership)
• Lead design, build, and deployment of customer-specific Tulip solutions
• Work side by side with customers and partners to implement solutions in live manufacturing environments
• Deploy solutions to live production environments with minimal disruption

OT / IT Integration

• Integrate with shop-floor systems such as PLCs, MES/ERP, and quality systems
• Work with machine data, events, and production context (orders, materials, routings)
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues spanning software, data, and operational workflows
• Serve as the technical owner for forward-deployed customer solutions

Technical Leadership & Enablement

• Serve as the technical authority during customer deployments
• Advise on architecture, scalability, security, and reliability in regulated or high-availability environments
• Document solutions and share learnings across internal teams
• Communicate and work with broader customer team to strategize for success

Product & Platform Feedback

• Represent the voice of the customer to Product and Engineering teams, and collaborate to influence Product roadmap and feature design
• Help generalize customer-specific solutions into reusable product capabilities
• Contribute to internal process development, best practices, and cross-team collaboration

Key Collaborators:

• Tulip Account Executives
• Customer Success Managers
• Product Managers
• Engineering

Working At Tulip

We know even great candidates experience imposter syndrome. Even if you don’t match every requirement, applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. We’re building a strong, diverse team that values hard work, families, and personal well-being. Benefits of working with us include:

• Direct impact on product and culture
• Company equity
• Competitive benefits package including Health, Dental, Vision, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Life Insurance, AD&D Insurance, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Commuter Benefits, Parental Leave, and 401(K)
• Flexible work schedule and unlimited vacation policy
• Virtual company events and happy hours
• Fitness subsidies
• An inclusive, dog-friendly office with diverse and inspiring colleagues

We are an equal opportunity employer. At Tulip, we celebrate all. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Help us build an inclusive community that will transform frontline operations.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Please note that we may use AI-based tools to support parts of our hiring process. All data processing is carried out in compliance with local data protection laws, ensuring all personal candidate information is handled securely and ethically.