Forward Deployed Engineer
Summary
You’ll deploy and fine-tune an AI-powered B2B SaaS platform for distributors and manufacturers, integrating with ERP/CRM systems and guiding clients from sales to go-live in Munich.
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.