Applied AI Engineering

Location: Northern California Experience: Not specified Job Type: Permanent Compensation: $180K - $200K
### Top Skills & Technologies Forward Deployed | Python | JavaScript | Ruby | REST APIs | AI | Machine Learning | SaaS
### Job Summary Thinking Minds' client is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to bridge strategic customer needs and product innovation. This hands-on role partners with customer technical teams, R&D, Product, and Go-to-Market colleagues to deliver applied AI solutions that improve customer support operations.

You will move beyond implementation to influence product direction, inform roadmap decisions, and connect technical delivery with measurable business outcomes. The role combines software engineering, customer partnership, and creative problem-solving in complex environments.
### Ideal Candidate Should Have
Strong ownership, curiosity, and comfort solving ambiguous technical and business problems. An outcome-focused approach to translating customer challenges into practical software solutions.

Confidence collaborating across organisational boundaries and communicating with engineers and non-technical stakeholders. Interest in emerging AI capabilities and the judgement to assess architectural trade-offs and limitations.
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Key Responsibilities
Embed with strategic customers to understand business challenges, technical requirements, and opportunities to automate and scale support operations. Code alongside customer engineering teams, prototype solutions, and drive projects through successful delivery. Design and implement integrations using REST APIs, maintaining software quality while moving quickly. Partner with Sales, Success, Product, and Engineering to support adoption and provide actionable product feedback.

Codify delivery practices and share insights from customer engagements to strengthen the Forward Deployed Engineering function.
### Required Qualifications
Strong engineering background with experience building software used in real-world environments. Deep knowledge of a high-level programming language such as JavaScript, Python, or Ruby. Proficiency using and writing REST APIs to integrate systems effectively. Ability to learn unfamiliar technologies and architectures quickly while keeping business goals central. Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Willingness to travel and work on-site with customers, alongside a hybrid office working arrangement.
###

Preferred Qualifications
Experience building a SaaS product or delivering customer-facing technical solutions.
Familiarity with Salesforce customer environments and enterprise support workflows.
Practical exposure to AI or machine learning applications, rapid prototyping, and customer-driven product improvement.
Thinking Minds' client offers a collaborative environment, meaningful ownership, opportunities to shape applied AI products, and benefits supporting wellbeing and professional growth.