Forward Deployed Engineer (Principal)

The Role

We are looking for a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer to lead Scrums.com's most complex and strategically important applied AI deployments. You will operate across executive advisory, product strategy, architecture and hands-on engineering. You will frame the customer problem, define the production path, resolve the hardest technical constraints and create a repeatable deployment model for the team. You will shape how enterprises use the Scrums.com AI agent harness and Software Engineering Orchestration Platform to deploy governed AI across software delivery and critical business operations.

What You Will Work On

• Lead executive and technical discovery for complex enterprise programmes, identifying where applied AI can create measurable operational value.
• Define the target architecture, deployment strategy, governance model and technical success measures for multi-team AI programmes.
• Design and, where necessary, build the highest-risk components across agents, models, data, integrations, infrastructure and security.
• Set standards for context, tool authority, permissions, evaluations, guardrails and observability within the Scrums.com AI agent harness.
• Use the Scrums.com Software Engineering Orchestration Platform to coordinate delivery across customer teams, Scrums.com engineers, AI agents and technology partners.
• Guide model and vendor selection while preserving customer control over data, infrastructure, performance and cost.
• Review architectures, unblock critical incidents and make decisions where reliability, security or regulated-industry requirements are material.
• Develop reusable deployment patterns, reference architectures and engineering practices that improve outcomes across customers.
• Mentor senior engineers and act as a trusted technical counterpart to CTOs, CIOs and heads of engineering.
• Partner with Scrums.com product leaders to turn field insight into platform and AI agent harness improvements.

What We Look For

• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience with a track record of leading complex production programmes.
• Deep expertise in distributed systems, data platforms, cloud architecture or machine learning systems, combined with strong hands-on coding ability.
• Demonstrated experience taking AI, machine learning or data-intensive products from ambiguous requirements into reliable production use.
• Expert knowledge of system architecture, APIs, security, observability, data governance and enterprise integration patterns.
• Strong command of modern applied AI patterns, including agent orchestration, retrieval, evaluation, model routing, tool permissions and human oversight.
• Experience advising executives and leading engineering decisions across multiple teams or organisations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the judgement to simplify complexity without hiding risk.
• Experience in financial services, insurance, healthcare, telecommunications, government or another regulated environment is advantageous.

Why Scrums.com

• Work on applied AI deployments tied to real customer operations, not isolated demonstrations.
• Use the Scrums.com AI agent harness to govern context, tools, permissions, evaluations and model behaviour in production.
• Deliver through a Software Engineering Orchestration Platform that connects engineers, AI agents, infrastructure and software workflows.
• Join a global expert network of 10,000+ engineers and work with customers across the UK, Europe, Africa and the United States.
• Take on long-term, high-trust engagements with support from Scrums.com talent, delivery and technical teams.
• Apply once and be considered for relevant customer deployments across the Scrums.com network, with no fees or subscription for engineers.

Working Model

This is a location-based remote role. You must be based in, or willing to relocate to, the named metro area. Most delivery is remote, with working hours aligned to the customer and occasional travel to customer or Scrums.com offices when a deployment requires it. You will collaborate primarily during UK, European and South African business hours.

Engineering in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is Africa's largest corporate and financial centre, with deep demand for applied AI across banking, insurance, telecommunications, retail and industrial businesses. Scrums.com's Johannesburg operation connects engineers to complex enterprise deployments in South Africa and international markets.

Application Process

Apply through Scrums.com with your CV or engineering profile. Shortlisted candidates will complete an initial talent review, a practical technical assessment and role-specific interviews. For customer engagements, a final customer conversation may be required before matching and onboarding.

AI Interviewing

Scrums.com may use AI-assisted tools to help organise application information and support an efficient recruitment process. Hiring decisions include human review. Candidates may use AI tools for preparation, but submitted work must accurately represent their own skills, experience and judgement.

Equal Opportunity

Scrums.com is an equal opportunity employer and talent network. We consider qualified applicants without discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodation is available during the application and interview process.