Senior Forward Deployed Engineer

Elios AI; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Elios AI in Seattle, WA seeks a senior software engineer to build production AI systems for enterprise clients. You will own and ship LLM-powered features, including RAG workflows, with strong emphasis on observability, cost control, and measurable real-world impact.

You'll work hands-on across Python, TypeScript, React, and modern backends, collaborating directly with clients to translate technical decisions into clear outcomes while staying current with evolving AI tooling.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of production software engineering with hands-on LLM-focused work.
• Experience shipping AI systems that real users depend on with measurable outcomes.
• Proficiency across Python, TypeScript, React, and modern backend frameworks.
• Client-facing or consulting delivery experience with a track record of shipped projects.
• Hands-on builder mindset; able to own and deliver end-to-end.

Responsibilities

• Build and ship LLM-powered features into production, including RAG pipelines and model integrations.
• Instrument systems with evals, observability, latency optimization, and cost management.
• Work directly with client stakeholders, translating technical decisions for non-technical audiences.
• Own your workstream from scoping through deployment.
• Use modern AI tooling to amplify output while owning every line that ships.
• Stay current with frameworks, protocols, and models as tooling evolves.

Skills

LLM-focused development

Full-stack Python/TS/React

Client-facing delivery

Production AI systems

Observability and cost management

Job description

Location: Seattle, WA | Type: Full Time | Setup: Hybrid | Experience: 5+ years

About the Role

You'll build production AI systems for enterprise clients and sit in the room where the decisions get made. This is hands‑on engineering work: RAG pipelines with real retrieval metrics, agent architectures with observability, LLM integrations with cost controls and fallback strategies. You ship things real users depend on, then stand behind them with the client.

Our client is a fast‑moving organization deploying AI into production environments where the difference between a demo and a product actually matters. The work rewards engineers who are in the trenches with current tooling, not coasting on last year's knowledge.

If you can build the thing right and explain to a stakeholder why it was the right thing to build, this role will fit.

What You'll Do

• Build and ship LLM-powered features into production, including RAG pipelines, agent workflows, and model integrations
• Instrument what you build with evals, observability, latency optimization, and cost management
• Work directly with client stakeholders, translating technical decisions for non-technical audiences
• Own your workstream from scoping through deployment
• Use agentic coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex) daily to amplify your output while reviewing and owning every line that ships
• Stay current with frameworks, protocols, and models as the tooling landscape moves

Qualifications

• 5+ years of production software engineering, with hands‑on LLM‑focused work
• Experience shipping AI systems real users depend on, with measurable outcomes
• Full‑stack capability across Python, TypeScript, React, and modern backend frameworks
• Client‑facing or consulting delivery experience, with a track record of projects that shipped rather than just started
• Comfortable getting hands‑on; this is a builder role, not a delegator role

Why Join Us

You'll work on consequential AI deployments with senior practitioners who hold a high bar, with direct client exposure and real ownership. Competitive compensation and benefits.