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Forward Deployed AI Engineer – Technology & Experience (TechEx)
At West Monroe, we believe the next generation of consulting will be built by small, highly capable teams that ship real software, solve hard problems, and create measurable value quickly.
We are hiring a Forward Deployed AI Engineer—a hands-on software engineer who thrives in client environments and uses modern AI capabilities to enhance the systems they build. This role is engineering-first: designing, building, and deploying production-grade software systems that improve how businesses operate.
You will work directly with clients and cross-functional teams to deliver full-stack, data-driven, and AI-enabled solutions, moving from problem definition to production in fast-paced, high-impact environments.
About the Role
You will lead the design and development of production-ready software systems across applications, integrations, data, and infrastructure. You will be responsible for building systems that are reliable, scalable, and maintainable, while incorporating AI capabilities wthey meaningfully improve outcomes.
You step into ambiguity, align clients, and drive solutions from concept to working software. This role is best suited for engineers who want to stay close to the work—writing code, deploying systems, and solving real-world problems—while also shaping how solutions are delivered.
What You Will Do
Software Engineering & System Design
- Design, build, and deploy full-stack applications and distributed systems in client environments
- Develop services, APIs, data pipelines, and user-facing applications
- Integrate systems using REST APIs, webhooks, event-driven architectures, and custom connectors
- Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and maintainable across cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
AI-Enabled Engineering
- Incorporate AI/LLM capabilities wthey provide clear value (e.g., automation, decision support)
- Build AI-powered features such as workflows, copilots, and agent-based systems
- Develop prompting strategies and orchestration patterns for production use
- Leverage AI to improve testing, automation, and development workflows
Client Delivery & Problem Solving
- Work directly with clients to understand business needs and translate them into technical solutions, making tradeoffs with clients in real time
- Move quickly from prototype to production, iterating tightly based on user feedback while keeping the end result enterprise-ready
- Communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Platforms
- Build platforms that unify fragmented data, workflows, and systems into usable applications
- Design and implement workflow automations across systems and teams
- Support production systems through monitoring, debugging, and continuous improvement
Engineering Excellence
- Write clean, maintainable, production-quality code
- Contribute to reusable patterns, shared libraries, and platform extensible capabilities
- Operate in an Agile environment, balancing speed with long-term quality
- Mentor team members and contribute to engineering culture
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for engineers who care deeply about building high-quality software and solving real problems.
You are likely a strong fit if you:
- Identify as a software engineer first
- Enjoy building systems from the ground up and owning them through production
- Thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
- Are comfortable working across the stack
- Care about user impact and real-world outcomes
- Balance speed, pragmatism, and engineering rigor
Qualifications
Required
- 5–8+ years of experience in software engineering, platform engineering, or related roles
- Experience building and deploying production systems in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Strong foundation in computer science fundamentals
- Experience with APIs, distributed systems, and integrations
- Ability to operate in client-facing environments
- Strong communication skills
- Willingness to travel (25–50%)
Technical Experience
- Languages: C#, Java, Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, or similar
- Frontend: React, Angular, or similar
- Backend: APIs, microservices, service-oriented architecture
- Data: PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MongoDB
- Cloud & DevOps: AWS/Azure/GCP, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, CI/CD
- Integration Patterns: REST, GraphQL, event-driven systems
AI Experience
- Expertise in integrating LLMs or AI capabilities into applications
- Expertise in prompt engineering, agent-based systems, or RAG pipelines
- Expertise in using AI to improve development workflows
Preferred
- Experience with workflow orchestration tools (Temporal, Airflow, Inngest)
- Familiarity with data platforms (Databricks, Snowflake)
- Prior consulting or forward deployed engineering experience
- Exposure to operationally complex industries (e.g., utilities, healthcare, financial services,