Lead, Forward-Deployed Engineering for Legal AI

Newcode.ai; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Newcode.ai in Chicago is hiring a Head of Forward Deployed Engineering to build and lead the software engineers delivering production workflows for our Aurora platform in law firms.

The role blends engineering leadership with practical delivery, including architecture reviews, code collaboration, and direct client conversations. You will scale the FDE function to five engineers over six months while maintaining hands-on technical contribution.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success hiring, managing, and developing software engineers for production systems.
• Direct experience deploying technology within law firms or legal tech delivery teams.
• Fluency with law-firm workflows and tech constraints; strong communication to executives.
• 5+ years building production software with CS/engineering degree or equivalent.
• Strong judgment across APIs, data access, cloud deployment, testing, and maintainability.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the FDE team and establish technical standards.
• Lead technical discovery, map data flows, and deployment constraints for engagements.
• Review designs, unblock delivery, and maintain hands-on contribution ~40% time.
• Run AI Academy and tailor Aurora flows to client needs.
• Set delivery playbooks, track outcomes, and communicate tradeoffs to leadership.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Staff management

Client delivery experience

Python/TypeScript

LLM workflows

Education

BS in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

Azure

Microsoft 365

iManage

Elite/Aderant

Job description

Newcode.ai in Chicago is hiring a Head of Forward Deployed Engineering to build and lead the software engineers delivering production workflows for our Aurora platform in law firms.

The role blends engineering leadership with practical delivery, including architecture reviews, code collaboration, and direct client conversations. You will scale the FDE function to five engineers over six months while maintaining hands-on technical contribution.