Forward Deployed Engineer | Multi-level

Harnham; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Harnham seeks an Forward Deployed Engineering Consultant to bridge business strategy and technical delivery in Chicago (open to other major cities). This senior to manager-level role combines software/data engineering, AI, and enterprise consulting to deliver production-ready solutions for enterprise clients.

You will collaborate with client stakeholders, lead delivery streams, and mentor teams while remaining hands-on on critical projects.

Qualifications

• Hands-on Python and SQL experience with data pipelines or data-intensive apps.
• Experience translating business requirements into technical implementations in enterprise/client-facing environments.
• Strong foundations in software/data engineering or applied AI with production-ready solutions.

Responsibilities

• Own technical workstreams from requirements gathering through deployment and adoption.
• Build and configure data pipelines, AI workflows, applications and enterprise tech solutions.
• Translate business challenges into practical, scalable technical solutions.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data pipelines

AI workflows

Enterprise client engagement

Tools

Palantir Foundry

Databricks

Snowflake

Job description

Forward Deployed Engineering Consultant | Senior, Lead & Manager-Level Opportunities

Location: Chicago, IL (open to; Seattle, Atlanta, NYC or Dallas)

A growing technology and transformation practice is looking for Forward Deployed Engineers to bridge the gap between business strategy and technical execution, delivering production-ready data and AI solutions that create measurable business impact.

This opportunity is open to experienced individual contributors, technical leads and hands-on engineering managers who want to combine technical depth, client engagement and end-to-end delivery ownership.

The Role

Working at the intersection of software engineering, data engineering, AI and consulting, partnering directly with enterprise clients to turn complex business challenges into scalable technical solutions.

With significant investment in generative AI, agentic systems and enterprise data transformation, this is an opportunity to move beyond advisory work or isolated POCs and deliver technology that is implemented, adopted and used in production.

Responsibilities

• Own technical workstreams from requirements gathering and solution design through implementation, deployment and adoption.
• Build and configure data pipelines, AI workflows, applications and enterprise technology solutions.
• Translate ambiguous business challenges into practical, scalable technical solutions.
• Partner directly with client stakeholders, engineers, data leaders and business teams.
• Drive adoption through collaboration, technical enablement, documentation and knowledge transfer.
• Apply AI and modern data platforms to improve business processes and operational outcomes.
• At more senior levels, provide technical direction, mentor engineers and consultants, lead delivery workstreams and guide client engagements while remaining hands-on.

Ideally you will have

• Strong foundations in software engineering, data engineering or applied AI, with experience delivering production-ready solutions.
• Hands-on Python and SQL experience, including data pipelines, workflows or data-intensive applications.
• Experience translating business requirements into technical implementations within enterprise or client-facing environments.
• Familiarity with enterprise data platforms such as Palantir Foundry, Databricks, Snowflake or equivalent technologies.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate ambiguity, challenge assumptions and take ownership.
• Confidence engaging technical and non-technical stakeholders and communicating complex ideas clearly.
• For Lead and Manager-level positions, experience guiding technical delivery, mentoring teams and managing senior client relationships, without stepping away entirely from the technology.