Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) – Manufacturing & AI Operations
Role Description
Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) – Manufacturing & AI Operations
San Jose, California | On-site
ABCabinet is looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer to bridge the gap between software engineering, manufacturing operations, and business execution.
This role works closely with our production teams, sales teams, and leadership to develop and deploy AI-driven solutions that improve efficiency across our custom cabinetry manufacturing process.
Compensation & Schedule
- Starting at $30 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.
- Full-time position, working 40 hours per week.
What You'll Do
- Design and implement AI-powered workflows to optimize factory operations.
- Build internal tools that support production, sales, and customer service teams.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify operational challenges and translate them into scalable technical solutions.
- Deploy and iterate solutions directly on the factory floor, ensuring successful adoption by end users.
- Drive continuous improvement through automation, data analysis, and process optimization.
What We're Looking For
- Strong full-stack development skills.
- Proficiency in Python.
- Experience with React and TypeScript.
- Familiarity with AI technologies, automation tools, and workflow integration.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work closely with both technical and non-technical teams.
- Passion for solving real-world problems and creating measurable business impact.
Why ABCabinet? ABCabinet is a fast-growing custom cabinetry manufacturer with an 80,000-square-foot production facility in San Jose. We are actively integrating AI into manufacturing operations and building the next generation of intelligent factory systems.
If you're excited about deploying technology where it creates immediate real-world value, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and help shape the future of AI-powered manufacturing at ABCabinet.
Pay: From $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
Work Location: In person
About Forward Deployed Engineering
Forward Deployed Engineers are embedded directly with customers to build custom solutions, integrate products into existing infrastructure, and bridge the gap between product engineering and customer success. The role combines deep technical skills with the ability to operate in client environments and translate business requirements into working software.
Originally pioneered by Palantir, the FDE model has spread across AI, enterprise SaaS, and cloud infrastructure companies. FDEs write production code, architect integrations, train customer teams, and feed product insights back to the core engineering organization. At companies like OpenAI, Salesforce, and Databricks, FDE teams are treated as elite engineering units that can ship custom solutions in days rather than quarters.
Typical FDE stack: Python, TypeScript, SQL, REST/GraphQL APIs, cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure), and increasingly LLM APIs and AI orchestration frameworks. Strong communication and the ability to context-switch between technical and business conversations are as important as coding ability.
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