Forward Deployed Engineer

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a high-ownership, client-facing engineering role at a fast-growing, early-stage AI startup in the enterprise B2B SaaS space — backed by Y Combinator and operating at the intersection of AI, sales automation, and distribution/manufacturing. The company automates quoting and order processing for distributors and manufacturers, with deep integrations into ERP and CRM systems.

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you are the critical bridge between the product and its real-world impact. You will own the full technical lifecycle of each customer deployment — from sales handoff all the way through to go-live — working directly with enterprise clients and senior stakeholders every day. This role suits a high-agency engineer who thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments and genuinely enjoys solving customer problems at the ground level.

This role is on-site in Munich, Germany. Native German fluency is a hard requirement. Visa sponsorship is not available.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Own end-to-end technical implementation of the platform for each new customer, from sales handoff through to successful go-live.

• Configure and fine-tune AI models for customer-specific use cases, including prompt engineering and adjusting model behavior for domain-specific needs.

• Structure and clean messy real-world customer data; build reliable pipelines and integrations with enterprise systems such as SAP and various REST/GraphQL APIs.

• Develop prototypes to demonstrate new features or tackle emerging customer challenges, then evolve them into scalable, production-ready solutions.

• Engage daily with both technical teams and senior business stakeholders — translating their pain points into concrete engineering decisions.

• Act as the internal voice of the customer, surfacing product gaps, recurring patterns, and improvement opportunities to the core engineering team.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Must-haves

• Native fluency in German — this is a strict requirement.

• Strong full-stack engineering skills across Python, React, TypeScript, SQL, and API development (frontend, backend, and data pipelines).

• Hands-on experience with enterprise system integrations — ERP systems (e.g. SAP), REST/GraphQL APIs, webhooks, or B2B SaaS implementations.

• Proven ability to work with messy, inconsistent real-world data and establish reliable structures quickly.

• Practical experience with LLMs, AI agents, and prompt engineering — able to adapt model behavior to specific domains.

• Based in Munich or willing to relocate; comfortable working on-site with a high-intensity work ethic.

Strong signals

• Demonstrated customer obsession — you thrive at the intersection of engineering, product, and real customer environments.

• High agency and ownership; you spot problems, propose solutions, and follow through without waiting to be told.

• Excellent communication skills — able to explain complex technical topics clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Comfortable with ambiguity, legacy systems, and imperfect data; scrappy problem-solving mindset.

• Mission-driven approach — motivated by ambitious goals and real-world impact in a critical industry.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary: €90,000 – €200,000 per year, depending on experience.

• Early-stage equity opportunity at a well-funded, high-growth startup.

• Direct impact on company direction and product strategy from day one.

LOCATION

• Munich, Germany — on-site role.

• Visa sponsorship is not available; candidates must have the right to work in Germany.