What does a Forward Deployed Engineer do at lio?

Forward Deployed Engineers at lio 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 Engineer role?

The Forward Deployed Engineer role at lio 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 lio remote?

Remote availability varies by lio 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.

lio

Forward Deployed Engineer

$110K - $160K New York, NY, US Mid Posted August 16, 2026

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Role Description

Forward Deployed Engineer (all genders) ===========================================

The Opportunity -------------------

AI is fundamentally changing how the world’s largest enterprises operate.

At Lio, we’re building THE AI workforce for procurement.

We’re now expanding to the US and we’re looking for our first Forward Deployed Engineer in the US to help build Lio’s presence from the ground up.

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll work at the intersection of Engineering, Product, and enterprise customers. You'll build integrations, solve complex technical challenges, and help turn customer requirements into scalable product capabilities.

This is your chance to join Lio at the very beginning of our US expansion, working directly with Fortune 500 customers and helping shape how we build and scale in the US.

What You'll Do ------------------

In this role, you will:

Build enterprise integrations across APIs, SAP, and other business systems
Work directly with enterprise customers to design scalable technical solutions
Debug and resolve complex issues across production environments
Own customer-driven product features from implementation to production
Build MVPs and evolve them into scalable platform capabilities
Automate deployment and implementation workflows with Product and Engineering
Turn recurring customer needs into reusable product features
Help establish Lio's FDE function in the US and shape how we serve American enterprise customers as we scale

Your Profile ----------------

You'll thrive in this role if you:

Enjoy solving technical problems across APIs, integrations, and distributed systems.
Take ownership. You care about building reliable, scalable solutions—not just getting things to work.
Like working closely with customers and translating real-world challenges into product improvements.
Communicate clearly and enjoy collaborating across Engineering, Product, and customer teams.
Enjoy fast-moving environments where you can learn quickly and have a direct impact.
Are excited about AI and the opportunity to bring it into enterprise operations.

What's not required

Experience with procurement software or SAP isn't required.

We're much more interested in strong engineering fundamentals, curiosity, ownership, and your ability to solve complex technical challenges than in having the perfect CV.

Why Join Lio? -----------------

Lio is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and built at Y Combinator. We're bringing Silicon Valley ambition and engineering culture to Munich.

From day one, you'll work with Fortune 500 companies across Europe and the US, solving real-world technical challenges at the intersection of AI and enterprise software.

We move fast, care deeply about execution, and give engineers ownership from day one. The solutions you build won't stay customer-specific—they'll shape the future of our platform.

If you're excited about building AI systems that run in production at global enterprises, we'd love to hear from you.

Compensation Range: $110K - $160K

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.