Director of Forward Deployed Engineering

TENEX.AI; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

TENEX.AI is seeking a Director of Forward Deployed AI Engineering to lead a dual-function team of customer-embedded engineers and AI/Data Scientists. You will shape engagement models, guide productized solutions, and accelerate AI-native tooling that scales across customers.

In this role, you will work closely with Sales, SE&A, and Rapid Deployment teams, define the roadmap for embedded engagements, and hire and mentor engineers while reporting to the VP of Forward Deployed Engineering.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in technical leadership with customer-facing experience.
• Deep understanding of AI/ML, data science, and cybersecurity.
• Experience building customer-embedded engineering teams.
• Ability to define engagement models, scoping frameworks, and delivery approaches.
• Proven experience partnering with Sales on strategic accounts.
• Strong executive-level communication and stakeholder management.
• Experience coordinating across engineering, security, data science.

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the Forward Deployed AI Engineering team across its two functions: customer-embedded engineering and AI & Data Science.
• Own the team's mandate: embed in strategic customer accounts to discover problems, build high-grade solutions, and produce cross-customer intelligence that elevates the entire platform.
• Define the engagement model for FDE work — how engineers are assigned to accounts, how engagements are scoped, and how solutions are documented and productized.
• Oversee the AI & Data Science function — ensuring cross-customer telemetry, threat intelligence, and detection optimization work is translated into tools that the SE&A team can operate.
• Partner with Sales to identify strategic accounts that are candidates for FDE engagement.
• Partner with the SE&A and Rapid Deployment teams to ensure FDE-built solutions flow back into the broader delivery model.
• Serve as an executive-level presence with strategic customers — participating in account reviews and helping define the roadmap for embedded engagements.
• Evaluate new AI technologies, data science tooling, and engineering approaches that can improve team output and customer outcomes.
• Hire, develop, and retain engineers across both the FDE and AI & DS functions.
• Report to VP of Forward Deployed Engineering on team health, account coverage, and solution impact.

Skills

Embedded engineering

AI/ML

Customer-facing leadership

Engagement models

Sales collaboration

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in CS/Engineering/C cybersecurity

Cybersecurity certifications (CISSP/CISM/GIAC)

Job description

Company Overview

TENEX is an AI-native, automation-first, built-for-scale Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider. We combine cutting-edge AI with human expertise to deliver security operations that are better, faster, and more cost-effective than traditional approaches.

We’re a fast-growing startup backed by industry experts and top-tier investors led by Crosspoint Capital. Our team is mission-driven, customer-obsessed, and building something that matters — a new standard for how security operations should work.

Culture is one of the most important things at TENEX.AI — explore our culture deck at culture.tenex.ai to witness how we embody our values every day.

This role is perfect for those already in the Sarasota, FL or Kansas City, MO metro area, or eager to join us. Immerse yourself in a high-performance environment built on integrity, innovation, and a relentless drive to protect our customers.

About the Role

As Director of Forward Deployed AI Engineering, you lead the most innovative team in the TENEX FDE organization — a dual-function group of customer-embedded engineers and AI & Data Scientists working to solve hard problems and build solutions that scale. You will define how the team engages with customers, how solutions are built and productized, and how AI-native tooling accelerates the work.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the Forward Deployed AI Engineering team across its two functions: customer-embedded engineering and AI & Data Science

• Own the team's mandate: embed in strategic customer accounts to discover problems, build high-grade solutions, and produce cross-customer intelligence that elevates the entire platform

• Define the engagement model for FDE work — how engineers are assigned to accounts, how engagements are scoped, and how solutions are documented and productized

• Oversee the AI & Data Science function — ensuring cross-customer telemetry, threat intelligence, and detection optimization work is translated into tools that the SE&A team can operate

• Partner with Sales to identify strategic accounts that are candidates for FDE engagement

• Partner with the SE&A and Rapid Deployment teams to ensure FDE-built solutions flow back into the broader delivery model

• Serve as an executive-level presence with strategic customers — participating in account reviews and helping define the roadmap for embedded engagements

• Evaluate new AI technologies, data science tooling, and engineering approaches that can improve team output and customer outcomes

• Hire, develop, and retain engineers across both the FDE and AI & DS functions

• Report to VP of Forward Deployed Engineering on team health, account coverage, and solution impact

Required Skills & Qualifications

Technical & Industry Expertise

• 8+ years in technical leadership with experience in embedded engineering, professional services, or customer-facing technical roles

• Deep understanding of AI/ML, data science, and cybersecurity domains

• Experience building teams that work in a customer-embedded or problem-first engineering model

• Strong ability to define engagement models, scoping frameworks, and delivery methodologies

• Proven track record partnering with Sales on strategic account identification and expansion

• Executive-level communication and customer relationship management skills

• Experience managing cross-functional collaboration across engineering, security, and data science

Soft Skills

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with a bias toward action

• Excellent customer-facing communication and collaboration abilities

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance startup environment

• Passion for cybersecurity, automation, and continuous improvement

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)

• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, GIAC certifications, Google Cloud Professional, Microsoft SC-200/AZ-500, or AWS Certified Solutions Architect are a plus

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI-driven cybersecurity technologies and next-generation security platforms

• Collaborate with a talented and innovative team focused on continuously improving security operations

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• A culture of growth and development, with opportunities to expand your expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and engineering

• Be part of building something new — TENEX's Forward Deployed Engineering organization is a greenfield opportunity to define how enterprise security is delivered at scale