Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (AI) (Chicago)

MathCo is an AI and analytics consultancy headquartered in Chicago with a major hub in Bangalore. We help global enterprises turn data, analytics, and AI into measurable business outcomes, with over 2,000 projects delivered across industries. We don't stop at strategy: we build what we design, and we measure what we build.

Forward Deployed Engineering is our answer to how AI is changing consulting. The highest leverage person is no longer a project manager, an architect, a data scientist, or a developer. It is the one person who connects all of these while staying closest to the customer's problem.

About the Role

AI is changing how consulting delivers value.

At MathCo, our Forward Deployed Engineers sit at the intersection of business strategy, AI, software engineering, and client delivery. They are not specialists working within a narrow function. They are end-to-end problem solvers who partner directly with clients to transform ambiguous challenges into deployed, measurable outcomes.

As a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (AI) , you will embed with client teams, understand their business problems, architect scalable solutions, build production-ready systems, and guide adoption through deployment and handoff. You will serve as the primary technical owner throughout the engagement lifecycle, ensuring every decision remains tied to business value.

You will operate across AI, data, cloud, software engineering, and stakeholder management to deliver solutions that clients trust and scale.

Our approach begins with a simple principle:

Outcome → User → Workflow → Decision → Data → Intelligence → Action → Value

Key Responsibilities

Business Discovery & Problem Framing

• Collaborate closely with client stakeholders to understand business objectives, workflows, and decision-making processes.
• Identify opportunities where AI, analytics, and data-driven solutions can create measurable impact.
• Separate assumptions from facts and establish a clear understanding of the problem before solution design begins.
• Define success metrics and align stakeholders on expected outcomes.

Solution Architecture

• Design scalable, secure, and production-ready architectures aligned with client technology ecosystems.
• Evaluate technical trade-offs and guide architectural decisions across cloud, data, AI, and application layers.
• Ensure solution designs account for security, governance, integration, scalability, and operational requirements.
• Document architectural decisions and implementation approaches clearly.

AI & Software Development

• Develop and deploy production-grade AI, analytics, and software solutions using real-world client data.
• Build reusable, maintainable, and scalable code across the solution stack.
• Implement GenAI-enabled capabilities, including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agentic workflows, evaluation frameworks, and orchestration mechanisms.
• Validate solution effectiveness through structured testing and measurable performance outcomes.

Client Leadership & Communication

• Lead discovery workshops, solution reviews, working sessions, and executive presentations.
• Communicate technical concepts effectively to both business and technical audiences.
• Proactively identify risks and trade-offs while providing actionable recommendations.
• Manage scope, priorities, timelines, and stakeholder expectations throughout the engagement.

Delivery & Handover

• Create comprehensive transition packages, including:
• Solution architecture documentation
• Operational runbooks
• Validation and testing evidence
• Deployment guidelines
• Knowledge transfer materials
• Ensure successful adoption by client teams and support transition to production ownership.
• Continue providing architectural guidance during scaling and implementation.

AI-Enabled Delivery Excellence

• Leverage AI tools, accelerators, and digital agents to improve solution delivery and engineering productivity.
• Build reusable assets, playbooks, and frameworks that can be applied across engagements.
• Mentor and guide delivery team members through structured documentation and knowledge-sharing practices.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success is measured by:

• Client outcomes delivered and validated
• Speed from problem definition to working solution
• Adoption and production readiness of deployed solutions
• Quality of architecture and engineering decisions
• Effectiveness of stakeholder engagement and communication
• Successful knowledge transfer and client enablement

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 10–15 years of experience designing, building, and deploying software, data, analytics, or AI solutions.
• Demonstrated ownership of production systems and business-critical deliverables.
• Experience operating in client-facing or highly collaborative environments.

Technical Expertise

Deep expertise in at least one of the following:

• AI/ML Engineering
• Data Engineering
• Backend Engineering

Working knowledge across adjacent domains, including cloud architecture, data platforms, APIs, and front-end technologies.

Generative AI Experience

Hands-on experience designing and deploying enterprise GenAI solutions involving:

• Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Agentic AI workflows
• Prompt and context engineering
• AI evaluation and monitoring frameworks
• Responsible AI implementation practices

Cloud & Platform Experience

Strong experience with one or more of the following:

• Microsoft Azure
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Databricks

Ability to work within complex enterprise environments that include legacy systems, modern platforms, and third-party applications.

Consulting & Problem Solving

• Proven experience navigating ambiguity and defining structured solutions.
• Strong stakeholder management and requirements-gathering skills.
• Ability to translate business problems into scalable technical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to make informed decisions under uncertainty.

Communication & Leadership

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience presenting recommendations and technical decisions to senior stakeholders and business leaders.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.

AI-Native Mindset

• Enthusiasm for using AI tools and digital assistants to improve productivity and outcomes.
• Strong learning agility and curiosity about emerging technologies.
• Ability to operate independently in distributed, remote-first environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in consulting, solutions engineering, customer engineering, or forward deployed engineering roles.
• Experience delivering AI transformation initiatives at enterprise scale.
• Industry expertise in one or more of the following sectors:
• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
• Retail
• Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals
• Manufacturing
• Financial Services
• Experience delivering fixed-scope, outcome-based, or value-based engagements.
• Experience leading distributed teams and managing project execution through architecture documents, ADRs, runbooks, and implementation playbooks.

Why Join MathCo?

• Solve complex, high-impact enterprise problems using AI and advanced analytics.
• Work directly with senior business and technology leaders.
• Own the full lifecycle from problem definition to deployment.
• Partner with some of the world's leading organizations on transformative initiatives.
• Help shape the future of AI-enabled consulting and engineering.

Being a Mathemagician

• Embody MathCo's culture of ownership, excellence, and impact.
• Actively contribute to company growth initiatives while fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Demonstrate curiosity, agility, and a continuous learning mindset.
• Support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by valuing different perspectives and ideas.
• Create positive experiences for candidates, colleagues, clients, and stakeholders in every interaction.

Recognitions & Awards

• Leader in Top Generative AI Service Providers, PeMa Quadrant 2023 (AIMResearch)
• Recognized among Inspiring Workplaces in North America, 2023
• Accredited for Inclusive Practices by Great Place to Work® Institute, India
• Best Workplaces™ for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging 2023, Great Place To Work® India

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