What does a Forward Deployed Engineer do at Kentan Staffing Solutions?

Forward Deployed Engineers at Kentan Staffing Solutions 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 Founding Forward Deployed Engineer role?

The Founding Forward Deployed Engineer role at Kentan Staffing Solutions 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 Kentan Staffing Solutions remote?

Remote availability varies by Kentan Staffing Solutions 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.

Kentan Staffing Solutions

Founding Forward Deployed Engineer

$160K - $180K Brooklyn, NY, US Mid Posted September 21, 2026

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Role Description

Founding Forward Deployed Engineer

Location: New York, NY (Onsite)

Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire

Compensation: $160,000–$180,000 Base Salary + Equity (Competitive Benefits)

Interview Process: 4 Interviews

Position Overview

Our client, a rapidly growing AI startup transforming the insurance industry, is seeking a Founding Forward Deployed Engineer to join its Customer Solutions team. This is a unique opportunity to work directly with enterprise customers, implementing cutting-edge AI solutions that automate complex insurance claims workflows.

This role sits at the intersection of software engineering, customer success, and solution architecture. The ideal candidate is an engineer who enjoys working directly with customers, solving technical problems, and building custom integrations that drive real business value. You'll collaborate closely with product, engineering, and customers to deploy AI-powered solutions while influencing future product development.

The ideal candidate is personable, engaging, highly autonomous, and thrives in fast-paced startup environments where initiative and ownership are expected. Culture fit is extremely important for this team.

Key Responsibilities

Lead technical implementations from discovery through production deployment for enterprise customers.
Design, build, and maintain custom integrations using APIs, webhooks, and customer systems.
Develop workflows and automation using Python, TypeScript, SQL, and related technologies.
Configure, optimize, and fine-tune AI agents to meet customer-specific operational requirements.
Serve as the primary technical advisor for customers throughout implementation and adoption.
Partner with Product and Engineering teams to translate customer feedback into product improvements.
Troubleshoot complex technical issues and deliver scalable, customer-focused solutions.
Manage multiple customer implementations while ensuring successful delivery timelines.
Support solution architecture, implementation strategy, and ongoing technical consulting.

Required Qualifications

2+ years of experience as a Software Engineer, Solutions Engineer, Forward Deployed Engineer, or similar customer-facing technical role.
Strong programming experience with Python , TypeScript , and SQL .
Experience building REST APIs, integrations, and workflow automation.
Strong understanding of software engineering fundamentals and system architecture.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to work with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Self-starter with the ability to work independently and thrive in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.
Strong project management and organizational skills with experience managing multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with LLMs, prompt engineering, AI agents, or GenAI technologies.
Full-stack development experience (React, Node.js, PostgreSQL).
Experience with cloud platforms and modern software architecture.
Familiarity with low-code platforms such as Zapier, Make, or Retool.
Experience with voice AI technologies (Twilio, Vapi, LiveKit, etc.).
Background in insurance, claims technology, fintech, or enterprise SaaS is a plus.
Consulting or customer implementation experience supporting enterprise clients.

What We're Looking For

Personable, engaging, and customer-focused professional.
Scrappy, resourceful mindset with a strong sense of ownership.
Highly autonomous and comfortable making decisions with limited direction.
Passion for building technology that solves real-world business problems.
Collaborative team player who enjoys working in an early-stage, high-growth environment.

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.