Director of Forward Deployed Engineering

TENEX.AI; Sarasota (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

TENEX.AI seeks a Director of Forward Deployed AI Engineering to lead a dual-function team of customer-embedded engineers and AI/Data Scientists. Defining engagement models, you will shape how solutions are built and productized while accelerating AI-native tooling across the platform.

You will partner with Sales and cross-functional teams to embed solutions in strategic accounts, drive telemetry-based improvements, and mentor engineers toward scalable delivery in a fast-paced security-focused

Qualifications

• 8+ years in technical leadership roles
• AI/ML, data science, and cybersecurity domains
• Experience in customer-embedded or problem-first engineering
• Ability to define engagement models, scoping frameworks, and delivery methodologies
• Proven track record partnering with Sales on strategic accounts
• Executive-level communication and customer relationship management
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams across engineering, security, and data science

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the Forward Deployed AI Engineering team across two functions: customer-embedded engineering and AI/Data Science
• Own the team's mandate: embed in strategic customer accounts to discover problems and build cross-customer solutions
• Define the engagement model for FDE work and how solutions are documented and productized
• Oversee the AI & Data Science function and translate telemetry into tools used by the SE&A team
• Partner with Sales to identify strategic accounts for FDE engagement
• Collaborate with SE&A and Rapid Deployment to integrate FDE solutions into the broader delivery model
• Serve as an executive-level presence with strategic customers and shape the roadmap
• Evaluate new AI tech and tooling to improve team output and customer outcomes
• Hire, develop, and retain engineers across FDE and AI/DS
• Report to VP of Forward Deployed Engineering on team health and impact

Skills

Technical leadership

AI/ML & data science

Customer-embedded engineering

Engagement models & delivery

Executive-level communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering or related field

Certifications in CISSP/CISM/GIAC or cloud security

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

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