Forward Deployed Engineer (3+YOE)

JOB TITLE: Forward Deployed Engineer
LOCATION: Fremont, CA
DURATION: 6+ months Contract to Hire
RATE RANGE: $60-70/hour

POSITION SUMMARY:
Our client is seeking an experienced Forward Deployed Engineer with a proven track record in on-site deployment and optimization of infrastructure operating systems. This role is critical in executing rapid deployments, troubleshooting real-time issues, and ensuring seamless integration of technology and infrastructure to support our client's global operations, including Gigafactories, Megapack sites, and Solar.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner closely with supply chain teams to deeply understand workflows in procurement, demand forecasting, inventory management, logistics, warehousing, supplier collaboration, and order fulfillment.
• Identify and prioritize high-impact opportunities where AI and automation can eliminate manual work, reduce errors, and drive significant business value (cost savings, speed, resilience).
• Rapidly prototype, deploy, and iterate on AI-powered tools and systems — including intelligent forecasting, automated purchasing recommendations, supplier risk monitoring, dynamic routing, inventory optimization, and exception handling.
• Build and own end-to-end internal supply chain tools that integrate with ERP, WMS, TMS, and other enterprise systems.
• Leverage modern AI (LLMs, predictive models, optimization algorithms, agents) to automate complex decision-making and repetitive tasks.
• Act as technical owner for critical systems handling sensitive supply chain data, ensuring reliability, auditability, and scalability.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Data Science, and IT to integrate new capabilities into core platforms.
• Stay current with the latest AI tools, supply chain technologies, and industry best practices, applying them swiftly to internal challenges.

• 5+ years of software engineering experience with a strong track record of shipping production systems.
• Deep understanding of supply chain domains (procurement, planning, logistics, inventory, or manufacturing operations).
• Strong experience applying AI/ML to real-world problems (forecasting, optimization, anomaly detection, document processing, etc.).
• Excellent ability to translate ambiguous business problems into technical solutions.
• High agency, ownership mindset, and comfort operating in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.\
• Strong communication skills — able to work effectively with both technical engineers and supply chain operators.

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Proficiency in Python and modern data/AI tooling (LangChain/LlamaIndex, Pandas, scikit-learn, optimization libraries, etc.).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience as a Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Architect, or Internal Tools Engineer.
• Background in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, etc.), warehouses management systems (WMS), or transportation management systems (TMS).
• Experience with mathematical optimization, simulation, or operations research.
• Familiarity with agentic AI systems or building autonomous supply chain workflows.

• EDUCATION
  Bachelors degree preferred