Forward Deployed Engineer | Frontier AI

Ikuto; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Ikuto is seeking Forward Deployed Engineers who can turn highly sophisticated AI technology into genuinely valuable customer solutions. You’ll operate between engineering, product and some of the world’s most recognisable enterprises, owning technically complex challenges and delivering production-ready deployments.

This role offers considerable autonomy with direct exposure to influential customers and the chance to shape how emerging AI is deployed at scale.

Qualifications

• Strong technical foundations with Python or TypeScript, APIs and integrations.
• Real ownership of software that’s production-ready.
• Ability to work independently through unfamiliar, poorly defined problems.
• Excellent communication and an instinct for understanding customer needs.
• Intellectual curiosity, adaptability and bias toward action.

Responsibilities

• Turn sophisticated AI tech into customer value.
• Own technically complex challenges and build customer-ready solutions.
• Collaborate across engineering, product and enterprise customers to deploy at scale.

Skills

Python

TypeScript

APIs

Customer-facing

Ownership

Communication

Job description

We're representing one of the most compelling companies in the global AI ecosystem.

Significant backing. Extraordinary technical talent. Ambitions that extend well beyond today's applications of artificial intelligence.

This is a business operating at the leading edge of AI development, combining groundbreaking research with commercially proven technology already being adopted by some of the world's most influential organisations.

What makes this opportunity particularly interesting isn't just the technology. It's the calibre of people building it.

The business has assembled an exceptional group of researchers, engineers and product thinkers. It's an environment for people who want to be challenged, surrounded by outstanding colleagues and involved in work that could help shape the next generation of AI.

The opportunity

We're looking for Forward Deployed Engineers who can turn highly sophisticated technology into something genuinely valuable for customers.

You’ll operate between engineering, product and some of the world's most recognisable enterprises, taking ownership of technically complex challenges and building the solutions needed to overcome them.

This is a role for people who enjoy the entire process: understanding the problem, figuring out what needs building, getting hands-on and seeing the results in production.

You’ll have considerable autonomy, direct exposure to influential customers and an opportunity to shape how emerging technology is deployed at scale.

Who we’re interested in

There are two broad profiles we’re particularly keen to speak with.

You might already be working as a Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Engineer or Solutions Architect within a technically sophisticated AI, infrastructure or developer-focused business.

You’ve built real solutions, worked closely with customers and know how to balance technical complexity with commercial outcomes.

Exceptional engineers on an upward trajectory

Alternatively, you might be a high-performing Software Engineer, Founding Engineer or early technical hire who has progressed quickly and consistently taken on responsibilities beyond your formal remit.

You’re comfortable working with customers, naturally curious about their problems and motivated by getting things built and into people’s hands.

Whichever path you’ve taken, we’re looking for evidence of:

• Strong technical foundations, particularly with Python or TypeScript, APIs and integrations.
• Real ownership of software that’s made it into production.
• The ability to work independently through unfamiliar, poorly defined problems.
• Excellent communication and an instinct for understanding what customers actually need.
• Intellectual curiosity, adaptability and a bias towards action.
• A track record that suggests you’re capable of considerably more than your current job title might indicate.

Why this opportunity stands apart

The technology: Work directly with advanced, proprietary AI technology being developed by a genuine research-led organisation.

The people: Collaborate with an exceptionally talented, multidisciplinary team where the standard of thinking and execution is unusually high.

The impact: Your work will influence how major global businesses adopt and apply emerging AI capabilities.

The ownership: This isn’t a role where you’ll spend your time passing requirements between teams. You’ll be trusted to understand problems and build solutions.

The opportunity: Join an established, well-capitalised AI business that’s still at an exciting stage of its growth and technological development.

Location: Remote-first across the US and UK, with established office locations.

If you’re already operating at a high level, or your career trajectory suggests you’re heading there quickly, we’d be interested in speaking.