Senior Forward Deployed Engineer

Overview

We are looking for a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer who can be dropped into a client engagement and trusted to run a workstream end-to-end with minimal oversight. You are an AInative operator who builds, configures, and extends solutions in live customer environments.
You are not a retrained consultant or a business analyst with access to AI tools. The closest analogues to this role in the industry are forward-deployed engineers at Palantir or Scale AI. As a Senior FDE, you lead with deep expertise in one specialization but operate across the full
problem space. You are the person who walks into a client meeting with a vague problem and walks out with a workable scope. You decompose ambiguity, ship working solutions fast, and ensure that what you build is actually adopted - not just deployed.
You are client-ready from day one. You represent IG Labs in every interaction. You mentor Junior FDEs, set the standard for what good looks like, and contribute to IP capture that makes every future engagement faster.

We are hiring across specializations. Your primary depth could be in ML/AI, Data Engineering, Full Stack Development, Analytics/BI, or DevOps - we will match you to engagements based on what the client problem requires.

Responsibilities

At the Senior level, these are not things you can do with support - they are things you do independently, instinctively, and at a standard that others can learn from:

Lead client conversations: run discovery sessions, present solutions, navigate pushback, and build trust through technical credibility

Decompose ambiguous problems into buildable scope: you do not wait for requirements - you create them

Ship production-quality code that an offshore engineer in a different timezone can pick up and extend without calling you

Work across the stack without hesitation: your specialization determines where you lead, not where you stop

Self-manage completely: create your own task breakdowns, set timelines, flag risks before anyone asks

Document as a reflex, not a chore: architecture decisions, runbooks, and handoff notes produced as you work

Contribute to IP capture actively: work with the TA to identify reusable patterns and ensure Factory backlog items are logged

Own customer adoption: watch for adoption signals, iterate based on real user feedback

Support sales and pre-sales: join prospect conversations, shape engagement scope, provide defensible estimates

Mentor Junior FDEs: elevate the team through code review, pairing, and coaching

Qualifications

5+ years of hands-on software engineering experience with a track record of shipping production systems

Deep expertise in at least one specialization area: ML/AI, Data Engineering, Full Stack, Analytics/BI, or DevOps
Demonstrated ability to work directly with clients or external stakeholders
Experience operating in ambiguous environments - consulting, professional services, startups
Strong fluency with AI tools and workflows
Proven ability to work across the stack when needed
Strong written and verbal communication
Experience mentoring junior engineers