Lead Forward Deployed Engineer

Pelico; Miami, Austin, Boston (FL, TX, MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Competitive salary

Flexible, hybrid work model

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Learning & development budget

Work with aerospace and manufacturing

Job summary

Pelico is seeking a Lead Forward Deployed Engineer to join its growing team. You will design and deliver mission‑critical AI systems for aerospace and manufacturing, working closely with leadership and large enterprise customers to turn AI capabilities into measurable operational outcomes.

You will build end‑to‑end data pipelines, deploy AI powered agents, and scale the Forward Deployed function while maintaining strong customer relationships and business acumen in a fast‑moving startup

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Data, Software, ML, or Forward Deployed roles, ideally customer‑facing.
• Strong end‑to‑end data skills: ingestion to production (Python, SQL, Snowflake/DBT/Airflow, AWS)
• Comfortable with complex enterprise data (ERP, supply chain, manufacturing)
• Clear communicator with strong business acumen — autonomous, scrappy, and effective in fast‑moving startup environments
• Proven experience scaling initiatives and leading high‑performing teams
• You actively embrace AI tools as part of how you work — curious about what's possible and quick to adopt new ways of working smarter and faster.
• Hands‑on experience with AI‑assisted workflows — whether for writing, research, analysis, coding, or productivity
• (Nice‑to‑have) Strong solution‑framing skills, taking a customer need or issue end‑to‑end to a clear execution plan
• (Nice‑to‑have) Systems thinker with a strong ownership and execution mindset

Responsibilities

• Lead complex enterprise deployments from scoping to production
• Build and ship production‑grade AI and data systems (Java, Python, SQL, cloud)
• Stand up modern data stacks, architect scalable data pipelines, and deploy AI‑powered agents that reshape how operations teams work
• Integrate with ERP, MES, PLM, and broader industrial ecosystems
• Translate operational ambiguity into structured execution, engaging directly with enterprise customers from your first weeks
• Formalize best practices and scale the Forward Deployed function

Skills

Data engineering

ML

Python

SQL

Snowflake/DBT/Airflow

AWS

ERP systems

Leadership

Customer facing

AI tooling adoption

Java

Tools

Java

Python

SQL

Snowflake

DBT

Airflow

AWS

Job description

About Pelico

Traditional industrial manufacturing systems were built for predictability. Supply chains no longer are. Today, real-time data is buried in legacy tools that weren't designed for constant disruption. By the time an issue surfaces, it has already snowballed, sending everyone into firefighting mode. Pelico exists to close the gap between production plans and the daily reality on the factory floor.

We've built the manufacturing orchestration platform trusted by the world's most complex industrial operations : companies like Airbus, Boeing, Safran, Eaton, and Cartier. Our AI connects fragmented supply chain, production, and quality data into a single live operational picture — then puts AI agents to work anticipating disruptions, simulating recovery options, and keeping every team aligned before small problems become expensive ones.

Founded in 2019 and backed by General Catalyst, 83North, and Serena, we've raised $72M and are growing fast — 300% year-over-year revenue growth, deployed in 15+ countries, and supporting factories worldwide. We're headquartered in Paris, with offices in Miami, London and Amsterdam, and we're just getting started.

This is a rare chance to join a company that's redefining an industry that hasn't been disrupted in decades — from the inside.

About the Role

Pelico is building its Forward Deployed Engineers team — hands‑on builders at the intersection of data engineering, AI‑driven automation, and customer problem‑solving. As Lead Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll work directly with Pelico's leadership and senior executives at our largest enterprise customers, designing and delivering mission‑critical AI systems that sit at the core of aerospace and advanced manufacturing operations, and turning AI capabilities into measurable, repeatable operational outcomes.

What You'll Do

• Lead complex enterprise deployments from scoping to production

• Build and ship production‑grade AI and data systems (Java, Python, SQL, cloud)

• Stand up modern data stacks, architect scalable data pipelines, and deploy AI‑powered agents that reshape how operations teams work

• Integrate with ERP, MES, PLM, and broader industrial ecosystems

• Translate operational ambiguity into structured execution, engaging directly with enterprise customers from your first weeks

• Formalize best practices and scale the Forward Deployed function

About You

• 5+ years in Data, Software, ML, or Forward Deployed roles, ideally customer‑facing

• Strong end‑to‑end data skills: ingestion to production (Python, SQL, Snowflake/DBT/Airflow, AWS)

• Comfortable with complex enterprise data (ERP, supply chain, manufacturing)

• Clear communicator with strong business acumen — autonomous, scrappy, and effective in fast‑moving startup environments

• Proven experience scaling initiatives and leading high‑performing teams

• You actively embrace AI tools as part of how you work — curious about what's possible and quick to adopt new ways of working smarter and faster.

• Hands‑on experience with AI‑assisted workflows — whether for writing, research, analysis, coding, or productivity — and a genuine interest in staying at the frontier of what these tools can do.

• (Nice‑to‑have) Strong solution‑framing skills, taking a customer need or issue end‑to‑end to a clear execution plan

• (Nice‑to‑have) Systems thinker with a strong ownership and execution mindset

Why Pelico

We're building something genuinely hard and genuinely important. Here's what that comes with:

• Meaningful equity — you're building this with us, so you'll own a piece of it

• Competitive salary benchmarked to your market

• Flexible, hybrid work model — we care about output, not face time

• Health, dental, and vision coverage

• Learning & development budget — we invest in people who invest in themselves

• Opportunity to work with some of the world's most complex and fascinating manufacturing operations

• A team that takes the work seriously without taking themselves too seriously

• Miami office with a modern workspace, remote flexibility, 401(k) with company match, and direct work with world‑class aerospace and manufacturing customers

Pelico is an equal opportunity employer. We're committed to building a diverse team and an inclusive environment where everyone can do their best work.