Forward Deployed Engineer

Job description

Profound is the marketing platform for the age of AI search. The way brands reach people is being rewritten — AI models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Mode are now the answer layer between companies and their customers. We built the platform marketers use to understand, measure, and win in that world: the analytics, intelligence, and agent automation that turn AI search from a threat into a competitive advantage. We went from 0 to a $1B valuation in 18 months. Revenue grew 100x last year. Our customers include 15% of the Fortune 500 like Walmart, Wayfair and U.S. Bank, and innovators like Ramp, MongoDB, and Figma. We are backed by Sequoia, Kleiner Perkins, LSVP, and Khosla Ventures — and we are moving fast enough that the people joining now are building the playbook everyone who comes after them will run. As a Forward Deployed Engineer at Profound, you will be the technical bridge between our engineering team and our Fortune 500 clients. You will combine deep engineering expertise with exceptional communication skills to ensure our most strategic customers successfully integrate and maximize value from our platform. You will write production code, architect custom integrations, and solve complex technical challenges while sitting in client meetings, presenting to CTOs, and translating between engineering and executive stakeholders. This is not a support role. You are a full-stack engineer who loves working directly with customers. WHAT YOU’LL DO - Design and build custom integrations connecting Profound’s platform to enterprise systems - Write production-quality code in TypeScript, Python, and Next.js for client-specific features - Architect solutions that handle enterprise-scale data volumes and security requirements - Debug complex issues spanning client infrastructure and Profound systems - Optimize performance for clients processing millions of daily queries - Lead technical discussions with client engineering teams and C-suite executives - Join client calls to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions - Present technical architectures and implementation plans to diverse audiences - Build trusted relationships with technical champions at Fortune 500 companies - Conduct technical workshops and training sessions for client teams - Identify patterns in client needs and partner with Product to build scalable solutions - Contribute to core product development based on field insights - Build reusable components and libraries for common integration patterns - Document technical solutions and create implementation guides - Influence the product roadmap with direct customer feedback - Lead enterprise proofs of concept that unlock multi-million dollar contracts - Design data pipelines integrating with client business intelligence tools and data warehouses - Build custom dashboards and reporting solutions for executive stakeholders - Develop automation workflows connecting AI insights to business processes WHO YOU ARE - 2 or more years of software engineering experience working with production systems - Strong proficiency in TypeScript, Next.js, and React - Solid Python experience for backend development and data processing - Experience with REST APIs and system integration patterns - Database experience including PostgreSQL and time-series databases - Comfort working with cloud platforms, with AWS preferred - Rust experience is a plus but not required - Exceptional written and verbal communication skills - Ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders - Comfort presenting to and building relationships with executive audiences - Experience working directly with enterprise clients - Strong problem-solving skills under pressure - Ability to context-switch across multiple client engagements - Strong customer obsession and genuine care for client success - Engineering rigor with a focus on clean, maintainable, production-ready code - Strategic thinking that connects technical work to business impact - Ownership mentality with end-to-end responsibility for client relationships - Growth mindset with comfort operating in ambiguity and rapid change - Motivated by shaping how Fortune 500 companies adapt to the AI revolution - Energized by visibility across customers that informs product and go-to-market strategy LOCATION This is an on-site role in our NYC or SF office, designed for builders who thrive on speed, iteration, and meaningful impact. We are happy to support visa sponsorship for qualified international candidates. For this role, the expected base salary range is $140,000 to $260,000 (NYC and SF). Comp may vary by location. Profound’s total compensation package is designed to be competitive and includes base salary, equity, and a full range of benefits and perks. Final compensation will depend on factors such as your skills, experience, qualifications, and location, and will be determined during the interview process. Our recruiting team will share more details about the full compensation package and benefits as you move through hiring. #LI-PRO Note: All official communication from Profound will come from a @tryprofound.com email address. If you're contacted by anyone using a different domain, please disregard and report it as spam.