Forward Deployed Engineer

I'm hiring a Forward Deployed Engineer for a well-capitalised, early-stage robotics software company building the operating system for general-purpose robots. This is a Palantir-style FDE role at the intersection of cutting-edge robotics software and real-world deployments. You'll work directly with end customers, embed with their operators, and make production robotic systems work reliably in live environments. The problem you'd help solve: Most robotics deployments fail in the last 10%. The hardware works in the lab, the software demos cleanly - and then reality hits. The company is building the unified software layer that sits between robot hardware and AI models, but getting that layer to perform consistently across security, agriculture, and data centre environments requires someone who can close the gap between what the platform does and what customers actually need. You'd own that gap. You'd deploy systems in the field, debug across the full stack, and turn every hard-won insight into product improvements and reusable deployment playbooks. This role isn't advisory. You'll own delivery end to end, build trust with operators and site leads, and ship fixes that feed directly back into the core platform. You'll likely be a fit if you have: 2–4 years in full-stack (back-end leaning) software engineering, robotics engineering, or a forward-deployed engineering role with a strong engineering foundation Shipped production software into live, real-world environments - not just internal demos Strong hands-on experience with Python, Rust, TypeScript, and/or ROS Worked at a recognisable early-stage or high-growth startup The ability to read a customer environment, find the technical wedge, and ship the solution yourself Strong communication skills with operators, site managers, and technical stakeholders Nice to have: Robotics or embedded systems experience Familiarity with ROS or robotic perception pipelines Background in hardware-software integration Technical degree from a top university Ex-founder, founding engineer, or research to engineering background What you won't find here: This role won't suit you if you want to stay in one specialty, avoid ambiguity, or hand problems off to someone else. The company is ~10 people with no middle management. You'll have direct access to the CEO and real ownership from day one - but only if you can operate independently in messy, real-world deployments. The package: On-site in San Francisco, CA Regular travel to customer deployment sites H-1B and O-1 visa sponsorship available; open to relocation #J-18808-Ljbffr