Senior Forward Deployed Engineer

About the role

Handshake AI is looking for a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer to manage the full lifecycle of technical deployments for frontier AI labs. You will bridge the gap between complex customer requirements and production-ready engineering solutions while collaborating with teams across India and the US.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Translate sophisticated technical needs from AI labs into scalable, functional engineering systems.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Research, Product, and Operations departments in the US and India.
• Architect and maintain production applications with a focus on security, reliability, and performance.
• Create reusable frameworks and deployment patterns to streamline future customer projects.
• Prototype and iterate on solutions based on direct feedback from strategic partners.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to the growing India engineering team.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of professional software engineering experience.
• Proven track record of leading complex, customer-facing, or forward-deployed engineering initiatives.
• Proficiency in TypeScript, React, and modern backend system design.
• Expertise in relational databases like PostgreSQL, distributed systems, and cloud-based infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience operating production systems on AWS or GCP.
• Ability to manage stakeholders and communicate effectively across global teams.

Nice to have

• Background in LLM infrastructure, AI-powered products, or machine learning platforms.
• Experience working with strategic enterprise partners.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes, Docker, and CI/CD workflows.
• Previous work supporting applied AI or ML research groups.
• Experience in high-growth startup environments.

Skills & tools

• TypeScript
• React
• PostgreSQL
• AWS
• GCP
• Distributed systems
• System design
• Docker
• Kubernetes
• CI/CD

Practical notes

• Benefits include medical insurance coverage and food credits for every day spent in the office.