Forward Deployed Engineer
clera · San Francisco · $150,000 to $250,000
This posting has closed on 12 September 2026.
Description
About the Role
This is a founding engineer position at an early-stage AI infrastructure startup building an agentic integration platform. You will own core systems end-to-end alongside the founding team, setting the engineering patterns that every future hire builds on. The work is hands-on, high-stakes, and directly shapes the product from day one.
What You'll Do
Own the agent platform, infrastructure, and integrations runtime end-to-end. Set engineering patterns and standards that the entire future engineering org will build on. Ship to production constantly, working directly with the founding team. Help shape the full system architecture across agent orchestration, durable execution, self-healing systems, and a growing integration knowledge base.
What We're Looking For
2 to 9 years of professional software engineering experience; staff, principal, lead, or manager titles at large companies are not the right fit for this hands-on IC role. A completed or in-progress engineering, computer science, or quantitative degree from a strong technical university. Prior experience as a founder of a funded startup or as an early engineer at a well-backed seed or Series A startup; a career spent exclusively at large tech companies, enterprise, or consulting does not meet the bar.
Proven track record of shipping and owning real production systems end-to-end, multiple times. Proficiency across the stack: TypeScript, React, PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, and AWS; experience with Bun or Effect-TS is a plus. Comfortable working with and directing multiple AI coding agents while exercising strong judgment over production quality.
Broad end-to-end engineering ability spanning agent platforms, infrastructure, and integration runtimes. Genuine motivation for a fast-paced, high-intensity, in-person early-stage environment. Compensation & Benefits Salary range: $150,000 to $250,000 USD annually.
Visa sponsorship is available where an O-1 visa is a realistic path. Location On-site, five days a week in San Francisco, CA. Candidates based elsewhere in the US are welcome with a concrete, dated relocation plan to San Francisco.
ABOUT THE ROLE
This is a founding engineer position at an early-stage AI infrastructure startup building an agentic integration platform. You will own core systems end-to-end alongside the founding team, setting the engineering patterns that every future hire builds on. The work is hands-on, high-stakes, and directly shapes the product from day one.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Own the agent platform, infrastructure, and integrations runtime end-to-end.
- Set engineering patterns and standards that the entire future engineering org will build on.
- Ship to production constantly, working directly with the founding team.
- Help shape the full system architecture across agent orchestration, durable execution, self-healing systems, and a growing integration knowledge base.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- 2 to 9 years of professional software engineering experience; staff, principal, lead, or manager titles at large companies are not the right fit for this hands-on IC role.
- A completed or in-progress engineering, computer science, or quantitative degree from a strong technical university.
- Prior experience as a founder of a funded startup or as an early engineer at a well-backed seed or Series A startup; a career spent exclusively at large tech companies, enterprise, or consulting does not meet the bar.
- Proven track record of shipping and owning real production systems end-to-end, multiple times.
- Proficiency across the stack: TypeScript, React, PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, and AWS; experience with Bun or Effect-TS is a plus.
- Comfortable working with and directing multiple AI coding agents while exercising strong judgment over production quality.
- Broad end-to-end engineering ability spanning agent platforms, infrastructure, and integration runtimes.
- Genuine motivation for a fast-paced, high-intensity, in-person early-stage environment. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- Salary range: $150,000 to $250,000 USD annually.
- Visa sponsorship is available where an O-1 visa is a realistic path. LOCATION On-site, five days a week in San Francisco, CA. Candidates based elsewhere in the US are welcome with a concrete, dated relocation plan to San Francisco.
Other openings for this role
4 postings for this role in San Francisco since 9 September 2026, 1 still open. None has been taken down and posted again.
- 12 September 2026 – open
- 11 September 2026 – closed 17 September 2026
- 9 September 2026 – closed 12 September 2026 (this posting)
- 9 September 2026 – closed 12 September 2026
Salary context
68 other open postings titled Forward Deployed Engineer state a salary: median USD 150,000 to USD 220,000 a year.
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