AI Forward Deployed Engineer

OpenTrain AI; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 213,000 - 288,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenTrain AI is seeking an expert AI Forward Deployed Engineer for a contractor engagement based in the United States. You will design, implement, deploy, and maintain agentic AI systems spanning LLM applications and model infrastructure, working alongside government partners in forward-deployed environments.

The role requires expert Python, end-to-end ownership, and fluency in English, with a 6+ month horizon and a minimum 20 hours per week commitment.

Qualifications

• Strong Python engineering skills.
• Experience creating agentic systems and working with LLMs.
• Experience building or maintaining data pipelines and ML infrastructure.
• Experience with distributed systems.
• Understanding RL workflows or simulation environments.
• Ability to operate independently in ambiguous, partner-facing settings.
• Comfort working in high-security and high-reliability environments.
• Fluent English proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Build and deploy agentic AI systems from prototype through production.
• Design LLM applications, including multi-agent systems, tool-using agents, RAG workflows, and human-in-the-loop autonomy.
• Work with government partners in forward-deployed environments to translate mission needs into technical systems.
• Build and maintain large-scale data curation and evaluation pipelines for model training and improvement.
• Develop infrastructure for model inference, experimentation, evaluation, and deployment across frontier AI platforms.
• Build AI systems that connect mission data, models, and tools to operational autonomy.
• Own discovery, architecture, implementation, deployment, reliability, security, and iteration.
• Work with evaluation rating, text generation, question answering, and RLHF tasks.

Skills

Python

LLMs

Agentic systems

Data pipelines

ML infrastructure

Distributed systems

English fluency

Independent work

Job description

About OpenTrain

OpenTrain AI is the #1 platform for finding and building careers in AI training and data labeling. OpenTrain is hiring and contracting for this expert AI engineering opportunity, helping contributors find meaningful work shaping advanced AI systems.

• Create a free OpenTrain account and apply in minutes.
• This is a contractor opportunity for candidates based in the United States.

About AI Training Work

AI training is the human side of building artificial intelligence. Engineers, evaluators, and subject-matter experts help improve modern models through data curation, evaluation, text generation, question answering, and human feedback workflows.

This work supports the development of cutting-edge systems, including LLM applications and agentic tools. Many AI projects offer flexible, remote ways to contribute, while specialized engineering opportunities call for advanced technical ownership.

• Contribute to model training, evaluation, and improvement.
• Help turn data, models, and tools into more capable AI systems.
• Use technical expertise to influence how advanced AI behaves in real-world settings.

The Role

As an AI Forward Deployed Engineer, you will build and deploy agentic AI systems supporting high-impact U.S. Government missions. You will work from prototype to production, translating mission needs into technical systems in direct collaboration with government partners and taking ownership across the full system lifecycle.

The role is designed for an expert-level engineer who can operate independently in ambiguous, partner-facing environments. The expected project duration is 6+ months, with a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week.

• Employment type: Contractor
• Experience level: Expert
• Candidate location: United States
• Expected commitment: At least 20 hours per week
• Expected project duration: 6+ months
• Listed payment: Fixed price of $250,000 USD

What You’ll Do

You will design, implement, deploy, and maintain systems spanning LLM applications, model infrastructure, data workflows, and operational autonomy. The work includes both hands-on engineering and technical ownership in high-security, high-reliability environments.

• Build and deploy agentic AI systems from prototype through production.
• Design LLM applications, including multi-agent systems, tool-using agents, RAG workflows, and human-in-the-loop autonomy.
• Work with government partners in forward-deployed environments to translate mission needs into technical systems.
• Build and maintain large-scale data curation and evaluation pipelines for model training and improvement.
• Develop infrastructure for model inference, experimentation, evaluation, and deployment across frontier AI platforms.
• Build AI systems that connect mission data, models, and tools to operational autonomy.
• Own discovery, architecture, implementation, deployment, reliability, security, and iteration.
• Work with evaluation rating, text generation, question answering, and RLHF tasks.

Requirements

You should be a strong Python engineer with demonstrated end-to-end ownership experience and expertise in LLMs, agentic systems, data pipelines, ML infrastructure, and distributed systems. The role also requires the judgment to work independently while engaging directly with partners and mission stakeholders.

• Strong Python engineering skills.
• Experience creating agentic systems and working with LLMs.
• Experience building or maintaining data pipelines and ML infrastructure.
• Experience with distributed systems.
• Understanding of RL workflows or simulation environments.
• Ability to operate independently in ambiguous, partner-facing settings.
• Comfort working in high-security and high-reliability environments.
• Fluent English proficiency.
• Ability to discuss relevant experience building or supporting forward-deployed AI systems.

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are preferred for this opportunity. They can help candidates contribute effectively in government-focused and mission-critical environments.

• Active U.S. security clearance, or eligibility and willingness to obtain one.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government, defense, intelligence, or national security missions.
• Relevant U.S. Government mission AI engineering experience.
• Prior experience at a startup, defense organization, Department of War, or government-focused technology company.
• Experience operating in a fast-moving startup environment, a mission-critical government setting, or both.

How to Apply Through OpenTrain

Create a free OpenTrain account to build your profile and apply for this opportunity. During the application process, be prepared to describe your relevant experience with forward-deployed AI systems, Python, LLMs, agentic systems, data pipelines, ML infrastructure, and government mission work.

• Confirm that you are based in the United States.
• Review the minimum 20-hour weekly commitment and 6+ month project duration.
• Highlight relevant evaluation, text generation, question answering, RLHF, and AI engineering experience.
• Apply through OpenTrain in minutes.