Senior Forward Deployed Engineer

About this job

Handshake powers a massive network connecting millions of job seekers, employers, and schools, and has recently launched Handshake AI, creating a rapidly growing AI data business working alongside frontier AI lab researchers. As a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer based in India, you will play a crucial role in bridging advanced technology with client needs. The position involves collaborating directly with world-class AI labs to tackle their toughest engineering hurdles and optimize model performance. A typical day sees you managing the full lifecycle of customer deployments, architecting production systems, writing code across the stack, and coordinating seamlessly with cross-functional teams in both India and the United States. You will rapidly prototype solutions, design scalable applications, and help build a robust engineering culture while shaping the future of the global AI economy.

Responsibilities

• Partner with frontier AI labs to translate technical challenges into scalable solutions.
• Collaborate with US-based Engineering, Research, Product, and Operations teams.
• Design, build, and deploy production-grade applications for high-impact problems.
• Own technical architecture focused on reliability, scalability, security, and maintainability.
• Rapidly prototype, test, and iterate on solutions based on direct customer feedback.
• Build reusable tools and deployment patterns to improve delivery efficiency.
• Mentor engineers through technical leadership, code reviews, and best practices.

Requirements

• 6+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Experience leading complex customer-facing or forward deployed engineering projects.
• Strong proficiency with TypeScript, React, and modern backend architectures.
• Deep understanding of relational databases, system design, and distributed systems.
• Experience building and operating production systems on AWS or GCP.
• Strong technical judgment to solve problems in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience collaborating with globally distributed engineering teams.

Good to have

• Experience building AI-powered products, LLM infrastructure, or ML platforms.
• Experience working directly with enterprise customers or strategic technical partners.
• Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience supporting applied AI or ML research teams.
• Experience working in a fast-growing startup or high-growth engineering organization.

Who should apply

This role is ideal for seasoned software engineers with a strong background in client-facing or solutions engineering who want to make a tangible mark on the AI landscape. It suits professionals who thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous startup environments, can manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, and possess top-tier communication skills to bridge international teams. Candidates should have a passion for solving complex operational challenges and a desire to shape the future of artificial intelligence through human data infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions