Forward Deployed Engineer - Wafer

TalentPluto, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

TalentPluto, Inc. in San Francisco is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to implement AI solutions directly on client stacks in a post-sale, client-facing role. You'll pair with an AI strategist and own the technical build and delivery across diverse tech stacks.

This high-agency position offers autonomy from day one, opportunities to grow into senior engineering titles, and occasional travel to client sites about 1–2 times per month as required.

Qualifications

• 3–8 years of software engineering experience.
• Strong full-stack engineering capable of shipping production software.
• Experience designing, developing, and maintaining AI-enabled applications.
• Client-facing experience preferred.
• Ability to lead technical initiatives and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Build, implement, and present AI solutions on clients' existing tech stacks in a post-sale, client-facing capacity.
• Partner closely with an AI strategist who manages the client relationship, while you own the technical build and delivery.
• Ship production software across the full stack in a collaborative team environment.
• Lead technical initiatives and operate with a high degree of autonomy.
• Occasionally support pre-sale scoping when needed (not a standard expectation).
• Travel to client sites roughly 1-2 times per month as required.

Skills

Software engineering

Full-stack development

Client-facing

Independent leadership

Education

CS or Engineering degree (preferred)

Job description

Location: San Francisco, CA

Work Model: In-person (occasional client travel ~1-2x/month)

Industry: AI transformation & implementation consulting

Compensation: $180K base, $220K-$500K+ OTE

About the Company

Our partner is a fast-growing AI transformation and implementation consultancy serving Fortune 500 clients across AI strategy and AI engineering. A preferred implementation partner of a leading AI research lab, they work directly with the C-suites of top companies on high-priority, confidential AI initiatives. Fully bootstrapped and cash-flow profitable since day one, the team is roughly 40 people today and doubling headcount every quarter, with plans to reach 150-200 by year end. The consulting business also funds a growing portfolio of ambitious longer-term bets.

The Opportunity

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll be a post-sale, client-facing software engineer implementing AI solutions directly on each client's tech stack. You'll be paired with an AI strategist who owns relationship management and status updates, freeing you to focus on building, presenting, and shipping real solutions alongside the client.

This is a high-agency, high-upside role at an early and rapidly scaling company. You'll work across a range of tech stacks depending on the client, take on meaningful autonomy from day one, and grow into expanded scope over time, with clear paths toward senior engineering titles and engineering management as the team scales.

Responsibilities

• Build, implement, and present AI solutions on clients' existing tech stacks in a post-sale, client-facing capacity
• Partner closely with an AI strategist who manages the client relationship, while you own the technical build and delivery
• Ship production software across the full stack in a collaborative team environment
• Lead technical initiatives and operate with a high degree of autonomy
• Occasionally support pre-sale scoping when needed (not a standard expectation)
• Travel to client sites roughly 1-2 times per month as required

Requirements

• 3-8 years of software engineering experience
• Strong full-stack engineer comfortable shipping production software in a team
• Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and maintaining web applications and agentic applications
• Track record of leading technical initiatives and operating independently
• Client-facing experience strongly preferred and used as a differentiator among comparable candidates
• Backgrounds as a former founder, CTO, or founding engineer of a startup are highly valued, as is experience running an engineering-led AI consulting effort
• Computer science or engineering education is a plus
• Comfortable with an in-person, fast-paced environment and a willingness to put in effort beyond a standard week