Forward Deployed Engineer

Inclusively Remote; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Travel opportunities

Job summary

The Agency Fund (TAF) seeks a Forward Deployed Engineer to work directly with NGO partners, architecting and adapting data-driven technology for real-world deployments in low-connectivity environments. You will be on the frontline, translating field learnings into robust platform implementations while mentoring partners on use and maintenance.

This fully remote, travel-enabled role offers autonomy within a small, global team and opportunities to shape impactful technology across East Africa and

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of software engineering, data science or technical consulting experience.
• Proficient in at least one backend language (Python or JavaScript) and comfortable with APIs.
• Ability to navigate ambiguous, low-connectivity environments with resourcefulness and creativity.

Responsibilities

• Architect and adapt data-driven technology solutions at partner NGO sites across multiple countries.
• Diagnose and organize partners’ existing applications and data systems.
• Deploy and configure Agency Fund technology platforms and programs to scale and improve partner operations and impact.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for field-side implementation challenges.
• Customize and adapt platform features based on partner-specific workflows and constraints.
• Train partner staff on platform usage and build internal technical capacity at partner orgs.
• Identify and elevate product issues, collecting structured feedback from field deployments.
• Collaborate with TAF’s engineering team to translate field learnings into product improvements.
• Document deployment processes, partner configurations, and lessons learned for reuse.

Skills

Python/JavaScript

Tools

APIs

Job description

The Agency Fund (TAF) is a US non-profit funder-doer that builds projects to expand human agency at scale. We embed engineers and product managers directly inside evidence-based nonprofits across East Africa, South Asia, and beyond — helping them build data infrastructure, run experiments, and scale impact through automation and product thinking. Our small, global team combines expertise in software, AI, social psychology, and development economics, and our community of 200+ partner organizations reaches millions of people annually.

We’re an entrepreneurial team that operates with minimal hierarchy — everyone contributes to a shared mission in unique ways.

The Role

We’re looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to join our team. You’ll work directly on-the-ground with Agency Fund’s NGO partners to investigate, architect, implement and adapt our technology platforms and programs in the field. You’re part engineer, part consultant, and part mentor — the person who makes the tech actually work for real users in resource-constrained environments.

What You’ll Do

• Architect and adapt data-driven technology solutions at partner NGO sites across multiple countries
• Diagnose and organize partners’ existing applications and data systems
• Deploy and configure Agency Fund technology platforms and programs to scale and improve partner operations and impact
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for field-side implementation challenges
• Customize and adapt platform features based on partner-specific workflows and constraints
• Train partner staff on platform usage and build internal technical capacity at partner orgs
• Identify and elevate product issues, collecting structured feedback from field deployments
• Collaborate with TAF’s engineering team to translate field learnings into product improvements
• Document deployment processes, partner configurations, and lessons learned for reuse

Who You Are

• Have 2–5 years of software engineering, data science or technical consulting experience
• Are proficient in at least one backend language (Python, Javascript, etc.) and comfortable with APIs
• Can navigate ambiguous, low-connectivity environments with resourcefulness and creativity
• Have strong interpersonal and communication skills — you’re comfortable training and presenting to technical and non-technical audiences
• Are a strong problem-solver who can debug novel issues without a reference manual
• Are genuinely excited about the ‘last mile’ — the messy, human, operational reality of technology in the field
• Can work with significant autonomy while staying deeply connected with a distributed team

Bonus points if you have:

• Prior experience living or working in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
• Familiarity with mobile data collection tools (KoboToolbox, CommCare, ODK, etc.)
• Experience with WhatsApp, SMS or USSD-based systems, or designing for low-bandwidth environments
• Knowledge of a major language spoken by our partner communities (Hindi, Swahili, Arabic, French, etc.)
• Background in global health, international development, or humanitarian technology

Why Join Us

• Work with a kind, talented, and mission-driven team
• Collaborate with bold thinkers across social impact, data, and product innovation
• Shape projects that directly expand human agency
• Fully remote and flexible working environment
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience

Location

• Field-based / Remote (with travel)
• Based in or willing to relocate to a region where TAF partners operate (Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia)
• Travel required to partner sites