Engineering Manager: AI & ML Platform Lead

Forward Networks; Santa Clara, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 239,000 - 249,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Networks is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead architecture, research and development of machine learning systems powering AI features within the Forward platform. You will oversee LLM-based components and coordinate across ML, backend, and frontend teams in a production environment.

The role demands strategic planning, mentoring engineers, and delivering AI-driven capabilities on the Forward Enterprise platform, with a focus on reliability, performance, and user experience.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field and 24 months of experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee design and implementation of large language model–based systems enabling natural-language interaction with the platform’s network digital twin, including query generation, query summarization, and conversational AI capabilities.
• Lead development of an agentic AI system that enables users to interact with the Forward platform using natural language and automate complex network analysis workflows.
• Guide the design for system components enabling large language models to interpret user intent, plan multi-step workflows, invoke platform APIs and query engines, and synthesize results using trusted network digital-twin data.
• Plan and manage long-term AI initiatives including quarterly and annual roadmap planning, effort estimation, and prioritization of engineering work. Track development progress using project management tools such as JIRA and coordinate execution of large-scale machine learning and platform engineering projects.
• Coordinate development work across machine learning, backend, and frontend engineering teams to deliver AI-driven capabilities within the Forward Enterprise platform.
• Collaborate with product management and user‑experience teams to define feature requirements, incorporate user feedback, and guide technical implementation of AI features. Manage and mentor machine learning engineers responsible for AI system development. Conduct hiring interviews, make hiring recommendations, perform performance reviews, onboard new employees, and guide team members in technical development and project execution.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for production issues involving AI features within the platform.
• Monitor system performance, triage incidents, coordinate debugging and resolution across engineering teams, and oversee continuous improvement of deployed AI systems.

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science/Computer Engineering or related field

Job description

Forward Networks is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead architecture, research and development of machine learning systems powering AI features within the Forward platform. You will oversee LLM-based components and coordinate across ML, backend, and frontend teams in a production environment.

The role demands strategic planning, mentoring engineers, and delivering AI-driven capabilities on the Forward Enterprise platform, with a focus on reliability, performance, and user experience.