What does a Forward Deployed Engineer do at David Joseph & Company?

Forward Deployed Engineers at David Joseph & Company are embedded directly with enterprise customers to implement and customize the platform, build integrations, and solve technical problems in real-world client environments. They combine software engineering skills with direct customer interaction, writing production code while also serving as the primary technical point of contact.

What skills are required for this Forward Deployed Strategist — Enterprise AI Automation role?

The Forward Deployed Strategist — Enterprise AI Automation role at David Joseph & Company typically requires strong software engineering skills (Python, TypeScript, SQL), experience with APIs and system integration, comfort with cloud platforms, and the ability to communicate complex technical topics to non-technical stakeholders. Most FDE roles require 3-7 years of engineering experience.

Is this Forward Deployed Engineer position at David Joseph & Company remote?

Remote availability varies by David Joseph & Company FDE role. Some positions are fully remote, others require travel to customer sites, and some are hybrid. Check the full job description above for the specific location requirements for this posting.

David Joseph & Company

Forward Deployed Strategist — Enterprise AI Automation

$150K - $225K New York, NY, US Mid Posted July 16, 2026

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Role Description

Forward Deployed Strategist

Snapshot: $150K–$225K base + equity · San Francisco or New York City · On-site (5 days) · Visa sponsorship available · 2–7+ yrs (consulting / enterprise sales / forward-deployed)

THE OPPORTUNITY

Our client is a venture-backed AI company (~40 people, founded 2023) that automates complex enterprise processes using an English-based programming language plus AI — running workflows against sensitive data with 98%+ quality across 500K+ production runs for Fortune 500 companies. This role owns the commercial and executional success of the most strategic enterprise deployments: converting Fortune 500 leads into pilots and scaling them to production.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Convert warm CEO leads into 7–8 figure pilots with Fortune 500 executives, owning the full commercial relationship. Deep-dive into customer processes, align stakeholder networks, and set success metrics before implementation. Lead cross-functional delivery teams (including engineers) through pilot execution and production scaling. Navigate complex enterprise dynamics and maintain executive alignment. Drive account expansion from pilot through global deployment.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

First 90 days: take ownership of active strategic deployments and build executive alignment. First year: convert pilots to production, expand accounts, and establish the deployment playbook.

MUST-HAVES (one of)

2+ years at MBB consulting, or 4+ years at Tier-2 consulting; or enterprise sales/AE experience at Series C+ companies selling to Fortune 500; or a forward-deployed role at a company like Palantir. Plus: direct ownership of enterprise relationships, strong commercial instincts, and excellent project delivery. Based in or willing to relocate to SF or NYC.

NICE-TO-HAVES

Experience leading technical delivery teams; 7–8 figure enterprise deal experience; background bridging commercial and engineering.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

$150K–$225K base (USD), competitive equity. Visa sponsorship available.

LOCATION & WORK MODEL

On-site 5 days/week in San Francisco or New York City.

HIRING PROCESS

Our team will walk you through the full interview process when we connect.

ABOUT THIS SEARCH

This is a confidential search managed by our recruiting team on behalf of our client. We've kept the company name off the posting — apply and we'll share full details and introduce you directly. We're an equal-opportunity partner and welcome applicants of all backgrounds; compensation reflects the role's posted range.

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.