Forward Deployed Data Engineer - Houston

Indicium AI; Town of Montana (WI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Indicium AI is seeking a Forward Deployed Data Engineer to anchor client engagements, architecture design, and production data pipelines on the US Launch Team.

You will modernize legacy ecosystems into cloud-native Lakehouses, integrate LLM workflows, and lead cross-functional pods to deliver working software weekly. Strong Databricks, Python, and SQL skills are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Advanced Python and SQL with production data software experience.
• Databricks Lakehouse stack expertise (Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, PySpark, DLT).
• IaC with Terraform for cloud provisioning, dbt for modeling, Git/Airflow for orchestration.

Responsibilities

• Lead embedded technical engagements with client VP/CTO stakeholders.
• Refactor legacy logic into Medallion Architectures.
• Architect data pipelines with LLM integration (Anthropic/Claude).
• Provide DataOps & IaC ownership across projects with CI/CD rigor.
• Coordinate with LATAM nearshore teams as US technical lead.
• Troubleshoot pipelines and deployments to keep delivery on track.

Skills

Python

SQL

Databricks

PySpark

DLT

Terraform

Git

Airflow

dbt

LLM orchestration

Tools

Terraform

dbt

Git

Airflow

Unity Catalog

Job description

The Opportunity

As a Forward Deployed Data Engineer (FDE) on our US Launch Team, you will act as the principal technical anchor embedded directly within high-stakes enterprise client accounts (focusing heavily on Financial Services and Healthcare). You won't just be writing specs or advising from afar---you will be on the front lines in client environments, bridging the gap between C-suite data strategy and hands-on production code.

Working at the tip of the spear alongside our elite partners at Databricks and Anthropic, you will lead architecture design, modernize brittle legacy ecosystems into cloud-native Lakehouses, build agentic AI data harnesses, and guide integrated "SWAT" pods to ship working software in weeks rather than months.

Key Responsibilities

• Embedded Technical Leadership Serve as the primary technical authority on client engagements. Partner directly with client VP/CTO stakeholders to scope architectures, map data domains, and turn complex requirements into execution-ready engineering plans.
• Hands-On Lakehouse Modernization Roll up your sleeves to write and optimize production PySpark , Databricks SQL , and Delta Live Tables (DLT)---actively refactoring complex legacy logic (Informatica, PL/SQL, legacy stored procedures) into Medallion Architectures.
• Agentic AI & Data Infrastructure Architect deterministic, secure data "harnesses" that integrate LLM workflows (Anthropic/Claude) into traditional enterprise data pipelines safely and cost-effectively.
• DataOps & IaC Ownership Write modular Terraform scripts to provision cloud environments (AWS/GCP), manage governance and lineage via Unity Catalog, and enforce CI/CD rigor across projects.
• Pod & Delivery Guidance Partner with our LATAM-based nearshore engineering squads (600 experts) as the US technical lead---conducting code reviews, debugging performance bottlenecks, and maintaining high engineering standards.
• Technical Unblocking & Escalation Act as the ultimate technical safety net. If a pipeline breaks or a deployment stalls at 2:00 AM, you have the hands-on depth to jump into the code, fix the issue, and keep client delivery on track.

Qualifications & Requirements

Technical Mastery & Execution

• Extensive Hands-On Data Engineering Deep proficiency in Python and advanced SQL with a proven track record of shipping production data software.
• Deep Databricks Platform Expertise Hands-on experience building, scaling, and tuning Databricks Lakehouse environments (Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, PySpark, DLT, Workflows).
• Modern Stack & IaC Discipline Expert-level experience with dbt (Core or Enterprise) for data modeling, Terraform for Infrastructure as Code, and Git/Airflow for orchestration and CI/CD.
• Legacy Migration Experience Demonstrated background migrating enterprise client workloads from legacy platforms (Teradata, Netezza, Informatica, Oracle) to modern cloud infrastructure.

Client Presence & Startup Grit

• The "Player-Coach" Mindset Equal comfort pitching target architectures to a client CTO and debugging a failing PySpark job or dbt macro alongside junior engineers.
• Executive Communication Ability to translate messy business requirements into clean architectural patterns and speak authoritatively across both technical and business functions.
• Scrappy Nation-Builder High autonomy and resilience---thriving in a fast-paced, Series A growth environment without relying on rigid corporate playbooks or large support structures.

Nice-to-Haves

• Prior experience in forward-deployed, technical consulting, or ProServe roles at top-tier agencies or hyper-growth vendors.
• Pragmatic experience building or deploying LLM/GenAI orchestration frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex, Anthropic API) into production pipelines.
• Official certifications in Databricks, AWS, GCP, or dbt.
• The anticipated base salary range for this role is $180,000 - $230,000. In addition to base pay, this position may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. An individual's final salary offer will be determined based on a variety of factors, including geographic location, experience, specialized skills, and qualifications. This compensation range is subject to updates or modifications at the company's discretion