Lead Forward Deployed Engineer

Talent Connect Protocol; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to $225k OTE

Meaningful Equity

Employer-Paid Healthcare

401(k) with 4% Match

Unlimited PTO

HSA Contribution

Disability Insurance

Job summary

Talent Connect Protocol in Austin is seeking a Head of Forward Deployed Engineering to lead a hands-on, enterprise-facing team that designs and deploys AI-powered workflows at scale. You will work closely with customers, Account Executives, Product, and Engineering to architect solutions, run technical discovery, and deliver proofs of concepts.

You will mentor engineers, build repeatable deployment playbooks, and drive production deployments while partnering with Sales to ensure successful

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Forward Deployed Engineering, Solutions Engineering, Solutions Architecture, or Technical Presales.
• Experience leading technical teams while remaining hands-on with enterprise customers.
• Strong technical foundation with APIs, Python, SQL, integrations, system architecture, and cloud technologies.
• Experience with modern AI technologies including LLMs, RAG, agentic workflows, or enterprise AI platforms.
• Proven ability to build custom demos, proofs of concepts, and production deployments for enterprise customers.
• Manufacturing, industrial software, ERP, CPQ, or configure-to-order experience is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Forward Deployed Engineers while remaining hands‑on with strategic enterprise customers
• Partner with Sales to own technical discovery, solution architecture, demos, proof of concepts, and production deployments
• Build AI-powered workflows using customer data, documents, APIs, and enterprise systems
• Collaborate with Product and Engineering to turn customer feedback into scalable product capabilities
• Create repeatable deployment processes, technical playbooks, demo environments, and implementation best practices

Skills

APIs

Python

SQL

Cloud technologies

LLMs / AI platforms

Leadership

Enterprise deployments

Demos/POCs

Job description

TCP is partnered with a fast-growing AI startup transforming how industrial companies capture, scale, and automate expert decision-making. Their platform uses AI agents to help engineering, sales, and operations teams make faster, more accurate technical decisions by turning complex workflows and institutional knowledge into intelligent, repeatable processes.

We're hiring a Head of Forward Deployed Engineering to build and lead the team responsible for deploying these AI solutions into enterprise customer environments. This is a highly technical, player-coach leadership role where you'll partner directly with customers, Account Executives, Product, and Engineering to design AI-powered workflows, lead technical discovery, deliver proof of concepts, and bring complex deployments into production.

What You'll Do

• Lead and mentor a team of Forward Deployed Engineers while remaining hands‑on with strategic enterprise customers
• Partner with Sales to own technical discovery, solution architecture, demos, proof of concepts, and production deployments
• Build AI-powered workflows using customer data, documents, APIs, and enterprise systems
• Collaborate with Product and Engineering to turn customer feedback into scalable product capabilities
• Create repeatable deployment processes, technical playbooks, demo environments, and implementation best practices

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in Forward Deployed Engineering, Solutions Engineering, Solutions Architecture, or Technical Presales
• Experience leading technical teams while remaining hands‑on with enterprise customers
• Strong technical foundation with APIs, Python, SQL, integrations, system architecture, and cloud technologies
• Experience working with modern AI technologies including LLMs, RAG, agentic workflows, or enterprise AI platforms
• Proven ability to build custom demos, proof of concepts, and production deployments for enterprise customers
• Manufacturing, industrial software, ERP, CPQ, or configure‑to‑order experience is highly preferred

Work Style: Hybrid (Austin preferred) with up to 25% customer travel

Compensation: Up to $225k OTE + Meaningful Equity + 100% Employer-Paid Healthcare + 401(k) w/ 4% Match + Unlimited PTO + HSA Contribution + Disability Insurance

PLEASE NOTE: Sponsorship cannot be provided for this role.