Mechanical Forward Deployed Engineer

CoLab Software Inc.; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Unlimited vacation

Extended health benefits

RRSP/401k matching

Remote-friendly in ET/CT zones

Travel to customer sites

Job summary

CoLab Software Inc. is seeking a technical problem-solver to embed with enterprise customers, optimizing how they use CoLab and AI tools such as AutoReview and Operator. You will work with a forward deployed team to close gaps, shape product direction, and influence customer success.

You will bring a mechanical engineering background, lead cross-functional projects, and thrive in ambiguous environments while solving engineering challenges for large customers.

Qualifications

• Background in mechanical design engineering, ideally in a medium to large organization.
• Strong understanding of PLM systems and enterprise engineering data architecture.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects and cross-functional collaborations.
• Experience working directly with customers or internal stakeholders to solve technical problems.
• Comfort working in fast-changing, ambiguous environments.
• Strong written communication and documentation skills.
• Working knowledge of high level AI architecture, specifically LLMs.
• Familiarity with APIs, data integrations, and enterprise architecture concepts.

Responsibilities

• Embed with enterprise customers to optimize CoLab usage, focusing on AI tools like AutoReview and Operator.
• Investigate and solve complex engineering data and integration challenges across PLM, ERP, QMS, and traditional design feedback tools.
• Partner with a cross functional team to test and implement new CoLab workflows inside customer environments
• Collaborate with product teams to identify feature gaps, improve capabilities, and refine AutoReview
• Build technical documentation, playbooks, and repeatable frameworks based on successful projects
• Provide mechanical engineering expertise to validate AI-generated results and ensure engineering rigor

Skills

Mechanical design

PLM systems

Cross-functional leadership

Customer engagement

AI/ML familiarity

Technical problem solving

Documentation

APIs & data integrations

Enterprise architecture concepts

Automation scripting

Education

Mechanical engineering degree

Tools

AutoReview

Operator

Job description

This is a high-impact role that helps define how CoLab delivers technical value to its most strategic customers. You'll act as a dedicated technical problem-solver and trusted advisor, embedding with enterprise customers to optimize how they use CoLab—especially our AI tools.

You'll help large mechanical engineering orgs rethink how they manage feedback, data, and decision-making across design and PLM. That means getting deep into customer workflows, testing new ways of working, and building repeatable methods the rest of the team can scale.

You'll work within our forward deployed team, alongside a technical program manager, software FDE, and customer-facing teams to close technical gaps, shape product direction, and directly influence customer success. This role isn't about selling or pitching—it's about deeply understanding engineering problems and solving them alongside the customer.

Our Ideal Candidate

You're a mechanical engineer by trade but your superpower is applying that knowledge in creative, systems-level ways. You're curious, technical, and comfortable working through ambiguity. You've likely been a design engineer or worked in a PLM-heavy environment. Maybe you've dabbled in automation, scripting, or app development for internal tools.

You don't need to be the loudest voice in the room—but you can run a sprint, lead a cross-functional project, and talk shop with both customer engineers and internal developers.

If the average person might find this job too undefined or complex, that probably excites you.

Job Responsibilities

• Embed with enterprise customers to optimize CoLab usage, with a focus on AI tools like AutoReview and Operator.
• Investigate and solve complex engineering data and integration challenges across PLM, ERP, QMS, and traditional design feedback tools.
• Partner with a cross functional team to test and implement new CoLab workflows inside customer environments
• Collaborate with product teams to identify feature gaps, improve capabilities, and refine AutoReview
• Build technical documentation, playbooks, and repeatable frameworks based on successful projects
• Provide mechanical engineering expertise to validate AI-generated results and ensure engineering rigor

Qualifications

Must-haves:

• Background in mechanical design engineering, ideally in a medium to large sized organization.
• Strong understanding of PLM systems and enterprise engineering data architecture
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects and cross-functional collaborations
• Experience working directly with customers or internal stakeholders to solve technical problems
• Comfort working in fast-changing, ambiguous environments
• Strong written communication and documentation skills
• Working knowledge of high level AI architecture, specifically LLMs.
• Familiarity with APIs, data integrations, and enterprise architecture concepts

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience with internal tool development, scripting, or automation
• Exposure to AI/ML tools applied to engineering workflows
• Prior work in design consulting or product development at scale
• This is a full-time, permanent position with a competitive compensation package that includes stock options
• Unlimited paid vacation, extended health benefits, and RRSP/401k matching
• Remote-friendly within Eastern or Central time zones in Canada or the US.
• This role will have a travel component to visit customers onsite. Customer visits are typically 1-3 days total, one or two a month.

Equity Note

Frequently cited statistics show that people who identify with historically marginalized groups are likely to apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to help us break that statistic and apply even if you don't meet every single qualification—your potential is what matters most to us.