Forward Deployed Engineering Team Lead

About the role

You will build the Forward Deployed Engineering function from scratch, collaborating closely with Product to deliver AI‑driven value for industrial customers. The role combines hands‑on technical delivery with strategic team and process creation, reporting directly into the company’s core technical organization.

Key responsibilities

• Build the Forward Deployed Engineering function, defining charter, operating model, quality standards and metrics.
• Recruit and develop a high‑performing team of Forward Deployed Engineers.
• Design and own the end‑to‑end process for customer engagements, from scoping to hand‑over.
• Develop custom agents, pipelines and logic directly in customer environments, shipping production‑ready solutions.
• Transform one‑off implementations into reusable platform capabilities together with Product and Engineering.
• Lead escalations with senior procurement and IT stakeholders, acting as the trusted technical presence.
• Leverage AI to extend the function’s capabilities and embed measurable improvements.

Required profile

• 5+ years building software close to customers in forward‑deployed or deployment‑style engineering roles.
• Hands‑on coding experience with Python and SQL, comfortable with data pipelines and integration architecture.
• At least 1 year of experience leading engineers or building a team from scratch.
• Ability to create processes where none exist and drive zero‑to‑one initiatives.
• Strong product instinct to differentiate one‑offs from repeatable patterns.
• Senior‑level presence with C‑level customers and ability to manage escalations.
• Native or C1 German and fluent English.

Required skills

• Python
• SQL
• Data pipelines
• Integration architecture

What we offer

• Competitive salary and equity participation.
• Vibrant in‑office culture with >4 days/week onsite work in central Munich.
• Development budget, regular Lunch & Learns, peer mentoring and external speakers.
• 26 + 4 vacation days per year plus company rest days and off‑site events.
• Health benefits including Wellpass membership, fruit basket and Jobrad.
• Voluntary pension contribution and KITA subsidy for children.