Principal Backend Engineer (Forward Deployed)
invisible technologies defunctMillbrae, CA
$250,000 - $300,000 per year
APPLY (opens in a new tab)Principal Backend Engineer (Forward Deployed)
invisible technologies defunctMillbrae, CALead L6
$250,000 - $300,000 per year
Computer Systems Engineers/ArchitectsSoftware DevelopersComputer and Information Research Scientists
APPLY NOW (opens in a new tab)Principal Backend Engineer (Forward Deployed) London - Hybrid; New York - Hybrid; San Francisco Bay Area - HybridAbout The RoleAs a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) at Invisible, you'll lead high-impact, AI-powered solutions that reshape how our clients operate their most critical workflows. You won't just build and deploy — you'll drive the strategy, architecture, and execution of end-to-end systems, working directly with client. This is a hybrid role: equal parts AI engineer, software builder, and technical consultant. It's perfect for someone who wants to be hands-on with models and close to the impact they generate.
What You'll Do:
- Partner with delivery and executive stakeholders to scope, design, and lead implementation of AI-driven solutions
- Identify transformational opportunities in messy, ambiguous workflows and turn them into repeatable systems
- Lead architecture design and trade-off discussions across performance, scalability, cost, and reliability
- Own projects from first discovery call through full deployment — including client-facing delivery, internal coordination, and post-launch iteration
- Build shared infrastructure, reusable components, and internal playbooks to level-up the team
- Coach and mentor mid-level engineers and help shape the culture of forward-deployed AI engineering at Invisible
- What We Need 10+ years of software engineering experience, including significant time spent building data, ML, or backend systems
- Deep proficiency in Python with hands-on experience using Hugging Face, LangChain, OpenAI, Pinecone, and related ecosystems
- Skilled in full-stack and API-based deployment patterns, including Docker, FastAPI, Kubernetes, and cloud environments (GCP, AWS)
- Experienced with workflow orchestration libraries, pub/sub systems (Kafka), and schema governance
- Expertise in data governance and operations, including Unity Catalog and policy management, cluster/job orchestration, data contracts and quality enforcement, Delta/ETL pipelines, and replay processes
- Strong product and system design instincts — you understand business needs and how to translate them into technical architecture
- Experience building usable systems from messy data and ambiguous requirements
- Excellent communication and client-facing skills; you've led conversations with technical and non-technical stakeholders alike
- Proven experience owning projects from scoping through deployment in ambiguous, high-stakes environments
- Be willing to be on-call for our customers when situations arise
- Able to travel 25–50% of the time as needed for on-site client engagements
- Strong engineering background demonstrated by a Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science and related fields OR equivalent professional experience
What's In It For You:
Invisible is committed to fair and competitive pay, ensuring that compensation reflects both market conditions and the value each team member brings. Our salary structure accounts for regional differences in cost of living while maintaining internal equity. For this position, the annual salary range by location: NY / SF: $250,000 - $300,000 USDLondon: £152,000 - £180,000 GBPOffers will also include bonus + equity What It's Like to Work at Invisible At Invisible, we're not just redefining work—we're reinventing it. We operate at the intersection of advanced AI and human ingenuity, pushing the boundaries of what's possible to unlock productivity and scale. Ownership is at the core of everything we do. Here, you won't just execute tasks—you'll build, innovate, and shape the future alongside world-class clients pushing the boundaries of AI.We expect bold ideas, relentless drive, and the ability to turn ambiguity into opportunity. The pace is fast, the challenges are big, and the growth is unmatched. We're not for everyone, and we're okay with that. If you're looking for predictable routines, this isn't the place for you. But if you're driven to create, thrive in dynamic environments, and want a front-row seat to the AI revolution, you'll fit right in.
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