Forward-Deployed Automation Engineer

Quick Facts

• Role: Forward-Deployed Engineer — Automation

• Focus: Hands-on automation for manufacturing workflows

• Work style: On-site testing and iteration with factory teams

• Travel: Up to 100%

• Location: San Francisco or New York

• Compensation: $120,000–$180,000 base + competitive equity and benefits

Description

Build and integrate automation that turns manufacturing tasks into reliable, repeatable systems deployed on-site. Work with operators to capture constraints, integrate controls and sensing, and develop operating sequences with checks and recovery behavior. Test and refine systems to improve reliability, quality, and operator time.

Responsibilities

• Work with operators to understand tasks, constraints, variations, and exceptions

• Build and integrate controls, sensors, equipment interfaces, and robotic systems

• Develop operating sequences, checks, and recovery behavior

• Test and refine systems to improve reliability, quality, and operator time

Requirements

• 0–3 years of experience (including recent graduates and self-taught builders)

• Curiosity, initiative, sound judgment, and ability to learn quickly

• Extremely comfortable using AI coding tools (e.g., Claude, Codex) for building, debugging, troubleshooting, and documenting

• Ability to troubleshoot across software and hardware

• Prior experience with industrial automation, PLCs, or robots is welcome but not required

Benefits

• Full-time role

• Competitive base salary ($120,000–$180,000) plus equity and benefits

• Opportunity to shape both the product and how it’s deployed

• Travel up to 100% depending on deployment needs