Forward Deployed Engineer

About the role

Thought Machine is actively engaged in replacing legacy banking infrastructure with modern, cloud-native core and payments technology. In this specific role, you will serve as the primary technical bridge that connects our internal product teams directly with our external client organizations. You will embed yourself within client engineering groups to collaboratively design, architect, and deploy production-ready banking solutions that are robust and scalable. This position requires a hands-on approach where you translate ambiguous business requirements into concrete, functional, and production-ready code and system architecture. You will own the full technical delivery of specific client engagements, ensuring that solutions not only meet specifications but also adhere to high standards of reliability. The role demands a proactive mindset where you act as a feedback loop to internal product teams by identifying recurring client pain points and advocating for new feature development. You will be expected to travel to client sites for up to 25% of your working time to maintain close working relationships. Ultimately, your work will ensure that the transition from legacy systems to modern platforms is seamless, secure, and aligned with client business objectives.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Embed with client engineering teams on-site or remotely to manage the full lifecycle of Vault product implementations, from initial discovery through to steady-state operations.
• Own technical delivery by translating complex business requirements into functional, production-ready code and architecture that directly addresses client needs.
• Write and maintain high-quality code in Python or Go to build critical integrations, data pipelines, and system extensions that integrate with existing banking infrastructure.
• Troubleshoot intricate issues across distributed systems, including databases, container orchestration platforms, and underlying cloud infrastructure to minimize client downtime.
• Collaborate closely with the Commercial team during presales activities to conduct proof-of-concept work, technical assessments, and live demonstrations for prospective clients.
• Act as a vital feedback loop to internal product teams by identifying common client pain points, systemic issues, and requirements for new features based on real-world deployment data.
• Travel to client sites for up to 25% of your working time, requiring adaptability and the ability to quickly integrate with new team environments and workflows.
• Design and implement technical solutions that ensure compliance and security standards are met within the highly regulated financial services sector.
• Mentor and guide client teams on best practices for operating and maintaining the deployed solutions long after the initial implementation phase.
• Participate in on-call rotations to provide immediate support for critical production issues that may arise during business hours or overnight.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years of hands-on professional engineering experience in a role that involved delivering software solutions to external clients.
• Demonstrated proficiency in either Python or Go, with a strong understanding of language-specific idioms, concurrency models, and ecosystem tools.
• Practical experience with Linux/Unix environments, including command-line operations, shell scripting, and system administration tasks.
• Hands-on experience with Kubernetes, including cluster deployment, management, and troubleshooting of containerized applications.
• Practical knowledge of PostgreSQL, including schema design, query optimization, and performance tuning in production scenarios.
• Experience working with Kafka for building real-time data pipelines and managing message streaming architectures.
• Direct experience deploying and operating production workloads on at least one major cloud platform, such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• A proven track record of working directly with external clients in a technical delivery or professional services capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects from initial design discussions through to successful production deployment, including handling edge cases and disaster recovery planning.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Willingness to relocate to or work within New York, New York City, United States, as this role requires physical presence in the client-facing capacity.
• Authorization to work in the United States is required, and candidates must be eligible for full-time employment without sponsorship for this position.

Nice to have

• Experience in financial services, specifically within retail banking, payments, or regulated environments where compliance and security are paramount.
• Professional cloud architecture certifications such as AWS Solutions Architect, GCP Professional Cloud Architect, or Azure Solutions Architect Expert.

Practical notes

• This engagement is full-time, requiring a standard schedule that aligns with client business hours and on-call responsibilities.
• Travel is an essential component of this role, with expectations to visit client sites for up to 25% of working time.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this role, and candidates must already be authorized to work in the United States.
• The interview process will include technical assessments and practical exercises designed to evaluate coding and system design capabilities.
• Deadlines for application review are not specified, but early submission is encouraged to ensure full consideration.
• The company provides all necessary hardware to support remote work and client engagement activities for successful candidates.
• This role is part of the Client Services team, which is dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction and long-term product adoption.
• The company is committed to supporting candidates of all backgrounds, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or dyspraxia, providing an inclusive environment for success.