About the Role
This is a founding, zero-to-one role on the Applied AI team at a venture-backed vertical SaaS platform company, working directly with co-founders to deploy AI solutions across a growing portfolio of mission-critical enterprise software businesses. You'll own the full deployment lifecycle end-to-end — from discovery through adoption — and help define what AI looks like across entire industries. As an early hire, you'll have outsized influence over how this function is built and scales.
What You'll Do
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Run discovery with customers, translate business problems into product specs, and build AI workflows and solutions from the ground up.
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Own full deployment lifecycles from initial build through customer adoption and ongoing post-deployment maintenance.
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Develop shared data models and workflows into productized, platform-style solutions across industry verticals.
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Work directly with co-founders and the Head of AI to shape and execute the company's broader AI strategy.
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Help hire and structure the forward deployed engineering team as the function scales.
What We're Looking For
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3–5 years of experience in a forward deployed or technical deployment engineering role at an enterprise AI or data platform company.
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Demonstrated ownership of at least one full technical deployment end-to-end, from initial build through customer adoption.
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Experience with B2B enterprise software deployments (not B2C only).
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Technical polyglot with hands-on experience across full-stack engineering, system architecture, data pipelines, and LLM application patterns.
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Strong computer science fundamentals; BS in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent technical field.
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Comfortable with approximately 50% travel for on-site customer engagements lasting weeks at a time.
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Background as a founder or early employee at a well-regarded startup is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
Base salary range: $200,000 – $300,000 USD annually. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Location
On-site, 5 days per week. Primary location is Chicago, IL, with New York also considered. Approximately 50% travel expected for customer deployments.