Subscribe
Unit8 SA

Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (Hybrid, USA)

$120K - $150K Charlotte, NC, US Posted April 29, 2026

Role Description

Unit8, founded in 2017, is a high-tech, dynamic Swiss leader in AI and data analytics consulting, renowned for solving complex challenges in traditional industries such as automotive, chemical, financial services, manufacturing, and pharma. Our esteemed partnerships with industry giants like Palantir, NVIDIA, and OpenAI underscore our commitment to excellence. With over 200 successful projects and a team of 150+ talented professionals across Switzerland, Poland, and Germany, we are now expanding our footprint to the USA.

Unit8 is dedicated to driving AI adoption in non-digital industries, accelerating their digital transformation. We invest in projects that matter, including pro-bono initiatives and "engineering for good" causes.

Requirements

About You Following our remarkable growth in Switzerland, Poland, and Germany, Unit8 is expanding into the US market. We are seeking a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer who will work directly with customers, owning delivery strategy and implementation.

What You'll do As a core member of our agile project teams, you will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining robust data solutions and infrastructure. You will work on cutting-edge data and AI topics to solve real-world business problems for our clients.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Developing, deploying, and troubleshooting complex data pipelines and processing systems using a variety of open-source and closed-source technologies, with a strong focus on Foundry.
  • Driving optimization, testing, and tooling to ensure exceptional data quality.
  • Collaborating with other software engineers, ML experts, and stakeholders in a cross-functional agile environment.
  • Working in multi-functional agile teams to continuously experiment, iterate and deliver on new product objectives.

What You BringThe Experience

  • Deep Domain Expertise: Minimum 5 years of experience in software/data engineering or data science. You have deep expertise in at least one key domain (Data Engineering, Data Science, Cloud Engineering, or GenAI).
  • Commercial Fluency: proven experience in pre-sales, proposal design, or technical advisory where you influenced executive decision-making.
  • GenAI/LLM Context: For relevant tracks, you have past experience building solutions with LLMs and a deep understanding of the overall GenAI landscape (Evaluation, Training, Problem Decomposition).

The Mindset

  • You have an engineering mindset focused on delivering working solutions. You prioritize solving real business problems over theoretical perfection or academic benchmarks.
  • You are comfortable working in a dynamic environment with evolving objectives. You can collaborate efficiently with both technical engineers and non-technical business stakeholders.
  • You feel a sense of ownership over the company’s technical reputation and are eager to train those coming up behind you.

The Essentials

  • Experience with programming/scripting, such as Python and/or SQL.
  • Proficiency in Palantir Foundry (nice-to-have)
  • Strong foundation in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or related engineering fields.
  • Willingness to travel (min. 10%) to client sites to drive implementation success and build relationships.
  • Strong client-facing skills: You are comfortable interacting with both business and technical clients, giving presentations, and possess a strong problem-solving mindset.

Location: perfectly you're currently located in Denver Colorado or Charlotte, North Carolina (or willing to relocate).

Benefits What we offer?

  • High-Stakes Work: You will work on critical projects that transform how major industries operate.
  • A "Builder" Culture: We are not a slide-deck consultancy. We build things that work. You will be surrounded by engineers and data scientists who share your passion for execution.
  • Pioneering role and autonomy: As a key member of our US growth, you will have the freedom to shape how we deliver value in this new market.
  • Groundbreaking Opportunity: You will play a pivotal role in establishing Unit8's footprint in the USA, driving the growth and impact of our operations in this emerging market.
  • Rewarding Package: The estimated base salary range for this position is $120,000 – $150,000. In addition to base pay, total compensation includes an annual bonus based on individual and company performance. We also offer a 401(k) retirement plan and comprehensive health insurance. Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and skills.

*Unit8 is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We believe that diversity drives innovation and enhances our ability to serve our clients effectively. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our mission.*

We look forward to hearing from you!

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.

Get the FDE Pulse Brief

Weekly market intelligence for Forward Deployed Engineers. Job trends, salary data, and who's hiring. Free.