Associate Forward Deployed Engineer

About the role

Eliza is an Advanced-tier OpenAI partner focused on building and deploying AI solutions for various organizations. This role serves as an entry point into our delivery team, where you will rotate through multiple client projects while developing the skills to lead technical engagements independently. You will work directly with clients to translate their high-level ambitions into technical specifications and executable proofs of concept. The position requires a proactive mindset, as you will be responsible for identifying gaps in existing workflows and proposing AI-native solutions. You will collaborate closely with senior engineers and product specialists to ensure technical decisions align with client business objectives. This role is designed for individuals who thrive in dynamic environments and enjoy wearing multiple hats across different stages of the project lifecycle. You will be expected to document your work thoroughly to ensure knowledge transfer and long-term maintainability. Success in this position is measured by your ability to learn quickly, deliver tangible results, and contribute to the overall growth of the Eliza delivery methodology.

Key facts

• 0 to 2 years of software engineering experience or equivalent work via internships, open-source projects, or substantial personal builds.
• Proficiency in Python.
• Proven ability to ship functional systems or tools that have been used by others.
• Experience with modern cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Familiarity with version control and CI workflows.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with an interest in direct client interaction.
• High level of ownership and the ability to proactively seek help when needed.

Nice to have

• Practical experience with LLMs, vector search, or prompt engineering.
• Prior background in consulting or client-facing professional services.
• Experience with ML or AI projects.
• Ability to handle ambiguity and switch between different problem domains quickly.
• Familiarity with JavaScript, TypeScript, or Go.

Skills & tools

• Python
• AWS, GCP, or Azure
• LLM integration and prompt engineering
• CI/CD workflows
• Version control

Practical notes

• Benefits include a work-from-home stipend and a monthly lifestyle stipend.

What you'll do

You will partner with client teams to gather requirements and define the scope of AI-driven features or automation opportunities. You will translate ambiguous business problems into well-defined technical tasks that can be tackled by the engineering team. You will build internal tools and prototypes that demonstrate the feasibility and impact of proposed AI solutions. You will write clean, maintainable Python code that integrates with cloud services and third-party APIs. You will configure and manage CI/CD pipelines to ensure reliable testing and deployment of your deliverables. You will conduct experiments with LLMs, vector databases, and retrieval-augmented generation techniques to validate technical approaches. You will communicate progress and blockers to the team in a clear and timely manner using written and verbal updates. You will participate in code reviews to ensure adherence to best practices and security standards. You will maintain a sharp focus on the user experience, even when working on backend or infrastructure components. You will contribute to the improvement of internal frameworks and templates that accelerate future project kickoffs. You will manage multiple priorities simultaneously, adapting your workflow as client needs evolve. You will mentor junior colleagues by sharing your learnings and fostering a collaborative environment. You will stay up to date with the latest developments in the AI ecosystem to identify opportunities for innovation.

Requirements

To be successful in this Associate Forward Deployed Engineer role at Eliza, you must meet the following requirements based on the provided facts. You need 0 to 2 years of software engineering experience, demonstrated through internships, open-source contributions, or significant personal projects. You must possess proven proficiency in Python and the ability to ship functional systems or tools that have been used by others. You are required to have experience with modern cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure. You must be comfortable using version control and working within CI workflows. You need strong written and verbal communication skills and a demonstrated interest in direct client interaction. You must own your work fully and know when to proactively seek help to unblock progress.

Nice to have qualifications

In addition to the core requirements, Eliza values practical experience with LLMs, vector search, or prompt engineering. Prior background in consulting or client-facing professional services is a plus. Experience with ML or AI projects will strengthen your application. The ability to handle ambiguity and switch quickly between different problem domains is important. Familiarity with JavaScript, TypeScript, or Go is considered nice to have.