Forward Deployed Engineer

Job description

Sourgum is transforming the $100B+ waste and recycling industry through cutting-edge technology that makes waste removal simpler, smarter, and more cost-effective. Our innovative haulsourcing platform powers high-quality waste and recycling services for businesses at significantly lower costs—saving our customers an average of 20%. Leveraging proprietary datasets, an advanced operating system, and a carefully curated network of 5,000+ trusted vendors, we help companies of all shapes and sizes streamline their operations while advancing sustainability efforts. We’re a fast-growing, venture-backed company (just closed our Series A!) on a mission to modernize an outdated industry — and we’re just getting started. Our investors include Spark Capital, Founder Collective, Suffolk Technologies, 186 Ventures, and River Park Ventures, the same funds that backed category-defining companies like Slack, Anthropic, Uber, Venmo, and Amazon Pharmacy. If you’re driven by the opportunity to build something groundbreaking, we’d love to meet you. THE TEAM At Sourgum, we’re building the operating system for the waste and recycling industry—bringing transparency, standardization, and accountability to a historically fragmented space. Our platform connects customers with a nationwide network of local operators, powering everything from pricing and logistics to service quality and reporting. The Forward Deployed Engineering team sits at the center of this transformation. We work directly with customers and internal teams to design, build, and launch high-impact solutions that drive real operational outcomes across the Sourgum network. THE ROLE As a Forward Deployed Engineer at Sourgum, you will partner directly with customers and internal stakeholders to architect, build, and deploy production-grade solutions on top of our platform. You’ll own the journey from initial problem discovery through deployment—translating messy, real-world operational challenges into scalable, reliable systems. This is a hands-on engineering role that blends software development with elements of product, operations, and customer-facing work. You’ll operate at the intersection of technology and the physical world, helping customers modernize how waste and recycling is managed across their locations. This role is ideal for entrepreneurial engineers who thrive in ambiguity, enjoy working closely with customers, and want to see their work drive tangible, real-world impact. WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING - Design, build, and maintain production-grade systems using general-purpose programming languages - Partner directly with customers and internal stakeholders to understand operational challenges and translate them into scalable technical solutions - Own projects end-to-end—from problem definition and solution design to deployment, monitoring, and iteration - Work cross-functionally with product, operations, and engineering to deliver high-impact features and workflows - Rapidly turn ambiguous goals into clear specifications, prototypes, and shipped solutions - Optimize system performance, reliability, and efficiency across pricing, logistics, and service workflows - Contribute to product development by identifying patterns across customer needs and helping shape roadmap and features - Operate as both an engineer and problem-solver, balancing speed with long-term scalability - Navigate ambiguity and make thoughtful tradeoffs to deliver simple, effective solutions - Take ownership of outcomes, holding a high bar for execution and accountability THE QUALIFICATIONS YOU NEED - Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field - 2+ years of experience in a fast-paced, high-growth environment - Strong experience with at least one general-purpose programming language in a production environment - Experience building and maintaining production systems that interact with real-world operations or workflows - Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights - Comfort working directly with customers and cross-functional teams - Ability to operate in ambiguous environments with a bias toward action and ownership Benefits - Company stock options as part of your compensation package, giving you the opportunity to share in our company's success and build long-term financial growth. - A positive and collaborative work environment with a focus on innovation and sustainability. - Flexible/Unlimited PTO - Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, LTD, Life Insurance, etc.), retirement plans (401K). - Access to hundreds of gyms, studios, and wellness apps—all through one easy membership provided by your Wellhub. - Yearly Personal Development Budget - Opportunities for professional development and career advancement within a growing company.