(Senior) Forward Deployed Engineer

Forward Deployed Engineers are Blockbrain’s most client-proximate technical operators. Where Solutions Engineers sell and specify, FDEs ship — embedded directly in client environments to deploy, extend, and integrate the Blockbrain platform against real-world constraints. You own the gap between signed contract and working system.

This is not a support role. FDEs write production-grade code, design integration architectures, and make technical decisions on-site with clients. You are accountable for time-to-value.

Deploy & Integrate

• Own end-to-end delivery of Blockbrain in client environments — from infrastructure standup through agent configuration, retrieval tuning, and integration wiring

• Work directly with client engineering teams to ensure seamless adoption

Build Client-Specific Extensions

• Develop custom connectors, API adapters, and workflow extensions using Blockbrain’s stack (TypeScript/Node.js, Python/FastAPI, Next.js)

• Tailor the platform to client data models, auth systems, and business processes

Retrieval & Agent Tuning

• Configure and optimize Blockbrain’s knowledge retrieval layer — vector indexes, reranker pipelines, graph integrations — for client-specific environments

• Translate domain requirements into retrieval architecture decisions

Infrastructure & Self-Hosted Deployments

• Support and troubleshoot Kubernetes-based deployments (Docker, ArgoCD), cloud integrations, and IaC (Terraform)

• Take full ownership of clients running self-hosted Blockbrain instances

Surface Product Gaps

• Act as a direct signal channel from the field to Product and Engineering

• Document patterns, edge cases, and missing capabilities with enough specificity to become actionable backlog

Run Technical Workshops

• Lead discovery sessions, integration workshops, and architecture reviews with client engineering stakeholders

• Own the technical narrative in client meetings and teach advanced customer advocates to become platform experts

Expected AI Skills

At Blockbrain, we don't just talk about AI — we use it every day. In this role, you will:

• Use Claude Code and Blockbrain's own agents to accelerate deployments — scaffolding integrations, debugging client environments, and generating documentation instead of writing everything from scratch

• Actively experiment with AI-assisted workflows for code generation, retrieval tuning, and test authoring to compress client time-to-value

• Collaborate with the product team to provide real-world field feedback on Blockbrain's AI capabilities — you're the closest person to how customers actually use the platform

• Stay curious about emerging AI capabilities and apply them hands-on in client engagements — if a new tool can cut a 2-day integration task to 2 hours, we expect you to find it

We're not looking for AI researchers — we're looking for engineers who treat AI as a power tool and reflexively reach for it before doing things the slow way.

• Professional Experience: 5+ years in solutions engineering, full-stack development, or a client-facing technical role with proven ability to deliver projects from ideation to deployment
• Communication: Excellent presentation and relationship-building skills; confident leading client consultations, demos, and technical workshops in German (at least B2 level needed) and English
• Tech Affinity: Jack of all trades with strong TypeScript proficiency across the stack; eager to pick up new technologies and infrastructure quickly. Familiarity with LLMs, data processing, and coding agents is ideal
• Solution Orientation: Bias for action and pragmatic execution — you prototype rapidly, deliver value to clients quickly, and thrive in ambiguous, dynamic environments
• Organizational Talent: Able to manage multiple concurrent client engagements, coordinate across Product and Engineering teams, and keep deployments on track without external project management
• Education: Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field — or equivalent practical experience
• Hard Skills: TypeScript/Node.js, Python, REST APIs, GraphQL, Kubernetes, Docker, ArgoCD, Terraform, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, vector databases, LLM/embedding pipelines, CI/CD tooling (Sentry, Grafana, Datadog)
• Soft Skills & Mindset: Entrepreneurial, resilient, and goal-oriented. An independent problem-solver who proposes tailored solutions, experiments with client feedback, learns from challenges, and communicates technical concepts clearly across all levels

• Flexible Work Models: Full-time position on-site in Stuttgart or Hamburg (3 days per week) with flexible working hours.

• Benefits: Deutschland-Ticket, Wellpass fitness membership, access to the latest AI tools, and regular company and team off-sites.

• Top Team: International team with exceptional talents.

• High Growth Potential: Steep learning curve in a fast-growing AI startup. A high level of personal responsibility and the freedom to actively shape processes.

• Top Equipment: MacBook, iPhone, headset, and all the tools you need to perform at your best.