Forward Deployed AI Engineer

SnapDrum helps companies convert AI ambition into working production systems.

Our forward-deployed engineers sit between engineering, product and the customer. They understand the user’s workflow, clarify the real problem, design the solution and remain involved until it is adopted successfully.

We are building a selective talent network for future UK and US client engagements.

The opportunity

This role is for an engineer who enjoys both building software and working directly with customers.

You will be expected to operate in ambiguous environments where the client may know the outcome they want but may not yet have a complete technical specification.

You must be able to ask strong questions, understand workflows, build rapidly, communicate trade-offs and take responsibility for implementation.

This is not a traditional account-management role and it is not purely a software-development role. It combines technical delivery, discovery, integration and stakeholder ownership.

What you may do

• Interview users and stakeholders to understand current workflows.
• Identify where AI, automation or software can create measurable value.
• Convert incomplete requirements into a practical implementation plan.
• Build prototypes and evolve successful prototypes into production systems.
• Integrate AI models with client data, applications and tools.
• Develop APIs, backend services, user interfaces and automation workflows.
• Evaluate AI outputs and design appropriate human-review processes.
• Work with client engineering, security, operations and product teams.
• Explain technical choices and risks to non-technical stakeholders.
• Manage implementation milestones, blockers and changing requirements.
• Train users and support adoption after deployment.
• Document the solution so that it can be maintained and scaled.
• Use AI development tools to accelerate execution while retaining full accountability.

Required experience

• Strong software-engineering capability in Python, TypeScript or both.
• Experience building and deploying real applications.
• Experience integrating APIs, databases and third-party systems.
• Familiarity with LLMs, RAG, agents or AI-enabled workflows.
• Ability to understand unfamiliar business processes quickly.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Confidence working directly with clients.
• Strong judgment in ambiguous situations.
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
• Evidence of taking a project or feature from idea to implementation.

Strong candidates will also demonstrate

• Consulting, solutions-engineering or technical customer-facing experience.
• Experience running technical discovery sessions.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as GCP or AWS.
• Experience with security, privacy or regulated environments.
• Product-management or product-design awareness.
• Experience deploying AI systems into real business workflows.
• Ability to balance speed, quality and commercial constraints.
• Relevant cloud or AI qualifications.

What we value

We look for people who:

• solve the client’s real problem rather than simply completing the requested ticket;
• are comfortable saying “I do not know” and then finding the answer;
• communicate risks before they become emergencies;
• can challenge a requirement respectfully;
• care about adoption, not merely deployment;
• use AI intelligently but validate their work;
• take ownership across technical and human aspects of delivery;
• remain calm and structured when requirements change.

Hiring process

1. Application and eligibility review

2. Asynchronous client-communication video interview

3. Practical discovery and solution-design exercise

4. Technical implementation assessment

5. Live client-simulation interview

6. Ownership and integrity interview

7. References and credential verification

8. Addition to the SnapDrum client-ready talent network

9. Client-specific matching and interviews

Location and working model

• Remote from Sri Lanka
• Future client-facing engagements with UK or US companies
• Regular working-hours overlap with the client will be required
• Occasional travel may be considered for some future engagements but is not guaranteed

Compensation

Compensation will depend on technical depth, client-facing experience, engagement requirements and working-hours overlap.