Forward Deployed Engineer/Senior Software Engineer

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you sit at the edge where DevX meets the client. You ship production code, embed directly with client teams, and turn ambiguous business problems into working AI-native software. This is a builder's role: most of your time is spent writing and shipping code, with the rest spent understanding client needs, demoing what you've built, and unblocking the path to delivery.

You're not architecting the whole platform yet—that's your Tech Lead's job—but you own meaningful features end to end, work close to the customer, and move fast with AI tooling. If you like seeing your code in front of real users within days and thrive on direct client contact, this is for you.

Hands-On Development (70%)

• Build and ship full-stack features end to end—frontend, backend, and the glue in between

• Implement AI integrations and workflows using Claude, OpenAI, and LangChain

• Develop POCs and demos quickly to validate ideas with clients

• Debug issues across the stack and fix production bugs

• Write clean, tested, reviewable code and act on code-review feedback

• Use AI tools (Claude Code, Cursor) as your default way of working to ship faster

Forward Deployment & Client Work (30%)

• Embed with client teams to understand their workflows, data, and constraints

• Translate client requirements into concrete tickets and working software

• Demo your work directly to client stakeholders and gather feedback

• Surface blockers and risks early to your Tech Lead

• Document what you build so clients and teammates can pick it up

First 30 Days:

• Ramp on an active client project and ship your first feature to production

• Get comfortable with the team's AI-first workflow and toolchain

• Build a working relationship with at least one client-side contact

First Year:

• Consistently deliver features on time with minimal rework

• Own a recurring workstream on a client engagement with growing autonomy

• Operate at 70%+ AI-assisted development

• Become a go-to engineer client stakeholders trust to get things done

Technical Foundation:

• 1+ years of full-stack development experience

• Strong in the JavaScript/TypeScript ecosystem: Node.js, Next.js, React

• Comfortable building RESTful APIs; exposure to GraphQL and serverless (AWS Lambda, Cloud Functions)

• Frontend: React, Next.js, responsive design, state management

• Working knowledge of one cloud provider (AWS or GCP)

• Databases: PostgreSQL or MongoDB; familiarity with Redis a plus

• Basics of Docker and CI/CD

AI-Native Development (Non-Negotiable):

• Actively using Claude Code, Cursor, or similar in your day-to-day development

• Have integrated, or are eager to integrate, LLMs into applications (Anthropic, OpenAI, LangChain)

• AI-first mindset: reach for AI before writing boilerplate from scratch

Client & Communication:

• Comfortable talking directly with clients and explaining your work clearly

• Can take a loosely defined problem and turn it into shippable software

• Write clear updates, basic specs, and documentation

• Comfortable with ambiguity and changing requirements

• Frontend: React, Next.js, TypeScript, TailwindCSS

• Backend: Node.js, Express, NestJS, serverless functions

• Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis

• Cloud: AWS (Lambda, S3, RDS, API Gateway), GCP

• AI Integration: Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, LangChain, vector databases

• DevOps: Docker, GitHub Actions

• Tools: Claude Code, Cursor, Git, Figma

• Shipped a project from 0 to production with real ownership

• Experience with e-commerce platforms (Shopify, Medusa, custom)

• Built an AI-powered feature in a real application

• Open-source contributions or technical writing

• Exposure to Frappe/ERPNext or similar ERP systems

• Genuine interest in working close to customers, not just behind a ticket queue

AI-First Environment:

• AI tool credits—use what delivers value

• Freedom to choose technologies and patterns that work

• Direct impact on what clients see and use

Work Culture:

• No leave policy (trust-based, own your delivery)

• No rigid 9-5—we care about outcomes, not hours

• Hybrid flexibility with Surat HQ collaboration

• Challenge conventional approaches, propose better solutions

Growth & Perks:

• Yearly outings, monthly lunches

• Clear path: Forward Deployed Engineer → Tech Lead

• Direct mentorship from senior engineers and Tech Leads

• Real client exposure from day one

• Competitive compensation (we hire the best, pay accordingly)

• Not actively using AI tools in development today

• Want to code in isolation and avoid client contact

• Need explicit instructions for every decision

• Uncomfortable demoing your own work to stakeholders

• “That's QA's job” or “That's DevOps' job” mentality