Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Starhold; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonus

High energy office environment

Job summary

A tech-focused organization in Chicago is seeking a Forward-Deployed Engineer to take ownership of client engagements. You'll bridge the gap between product and engineering, leading technical discovery, managing development teams, and ensuring delivery matches the architectural vision. The ideal candidate has strong full-stack skills, particularly in Django, and a proven track record of executing zero-to-one projects. Competitive compensation ranges from $80,000 to $100,000, plus bonuses and benefits.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable excellence building production web/mobile software with modern stacks.
• Experience integrating common APIs and services like Stripe, email/SMS, file storage.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work well with others in a fast paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical discovery and translate vision into scope.
• Own architecture decisions and design data models.
• Oversee a team of senior engineers ensuring quality delivery.
• Ship software across the stack and maintain engineering quality.
• Run weekly technical checkpoints with clients.

Skills

Strong full-stack capability

Excellent client-facing communication

Proven zero-to-one execution

Comfortable with databases (PostgreSQL preferred)

Experience integrating common APIs

Tools

Django

PostgreSQL

DigitalOcean

AWS

Azure

Job description

Overview

Benmore Technologies partners with non-technical founders and SMBs to take software products from idea to MVP and beyond. Our process centers on discovery, clear scope, and deliverable-based development, with AI-native workflows and modern stacks.

Role Summary

As a Forward-Deployed Engineer, you’ll be the technical owner on client engagements from kick-off through MVP delivery. You’ll sit at the intersection of product, engineering, and the client: translating vision into scope, shaping system architecture, de-risking unknowns, and shipping working software. You are hands-on full-stack, comfortable in discovery rooms and code reviews alike, and you’ve taken products from zero-to-one (ideally as a founder or first engineer).

Responsibilities

• Lead technical discovery: turn fuzzy requirements into crisp problem statements, user flows, and a prioritized MVP scope.
• Own architecture decisions: choose pragmatic stacks, design data models, integration plans, and deployment patterns with scale and cost in mind.
• Manage development teams: oversee a small group of senior engineers who implement the solutions you design with clients, ensuring delivery matches the intended architecture and technical vision.
• Ship software: implement critical paths across the stack (frontend, backend, integrations), review PRs, and uphold engineering quality.
• Interface with clients: run weekly technical checkpoints, present prototypes, handle tradeoffs, and maintain alignment on scope and timelines.
• De-risk delivery: identify unknowns early, run spikes/POCs, define acceptance criteria, and manage scope boundaries to prevent churn.
• Document and handoff: produce lightweight but thorough technical docs (architecture notes, API maps, etc) that enable smooth iteration.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Demonstrable excellence building production web/mobile software with modern stacks.
• Strong full-stack capability (preferably Django, however other stacks may suffice).
• Comfortable with databases (PostgreSQL preferred) and cloud (DigitalOcean/AWS/Azure) and CI/CD fundamentals.
• Experience integrating common APIs and services (auth, payments like Stripe, email/SMS, file storage, maps, etc.).
• Proven zero-to-one execution: shipped an MVP or v1 as a founder, first engineer, or equivalent owner.
• Excellent client-facing communication: can explain tradeoffs, write clear specs, and run structured technical meetings.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work well with others in a fast paced environment.

Nice-to-Have

• Mobile (React Native or Flutter).
• Prior consulting experience.

Compensation

Base annual salary of $80,000 - $100,000 USD

Competitive salary + performance bonus with benefits.

High energy office environment in Chicago.

Application Requirements

Record a Loom introducing yourself, and why we should consider you for this role.

Applications submitted without a Loom video introduction (https://loom.com) will not be considered.