Staff Forward Deployed Engineer

Alation

. Design and prototype AI agent systems and agentic workflows that automate data governance processes and complex reasoning tasks within Alation's platform .

Posted 9/17/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLead💰 $124,646 - $168,272 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in designing AI agent systems and data governance processes, with a strong focus on building BI and ML pipelines that deliver actionable insights. Proficient in translating complex requirements into technical roadmaps while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

Highest-signal resume keywords

AI Tooling ExperienceBI and Data Pipeline SolutionsStrong SQL SkillsCloud Data Platforms FamiliarityEnterprise Data Governance Knowledge

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Software EngineeringLLM FrameworksData Pipeline SolutionsSQLDistributed Systems Architecture

Soft Skills

Strong Communication SkillsCustomer EngagementMentorship

Tools & Technologies

SnowflakeDatabricksAWSGCPAzure

Industry Keywords

Data GovernanceMetadata ManagementAI Best PracticesTechnical RoadmapsCustomer Value Metrics

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AWSAzureCloudDistributed SystemsGoogle Cloud PlatformSQL

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and prototype AI agent systems and agentic workflows that automate data governance processes and complex reasoning tasks within Alation's platform
Engage directly with enterprise stakeholders to understand data ecosystems and governance challenges
Translate requirements into technical roadmaps tied to Alation's Knowledge Layer capabilities
Build BI and ML pipelines that convert cataloged data into actionable insights and demonstrate ROI
Partner with Deployment Strategists to connect technical work to business outcomes and deliver against customer value metrics
Contribute to repeatable solution patterns, accelerators, reusable components, and internal tooling
Feed customer patterns, edge cases, and AI use cases back to Product and Engineering
Support competitive analysis and surface customer-environment observations to GTM and Product teams
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior field engineers and customer technical teams on Alation architecture and AI best practices
Collaborate cross-functionally across field, Product, and GTM teams as an individual contributor

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years in software engineering, with meaningful experience in customer-facing technical roles such as Solutions Engineer, FDE, or similar
Hands-on experience with LLM frameworks and AI tooling, including orchestration patterns, vector databases, and RAG architectures
Experience delivering BI and data pipeline solutions
Strong SQL skills
Familiarity with cloud data platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks, AWS, GCP, or Azure
Solid understanding of enterprise data governance, metadata management, and distributed systems architecture
Ability to move quickly from ambiguous requirements to working prototypes and iterate based on customer feedback
Strong communication skills with technical and business stakeholders
Enthusiasm for Alation's mission and commitment to helping customers maximize data investment value