Lead Forward Deployed AI Engineer

Guidehouse

. Lead forward deployed engineering engagements with clients and multidisciplinary delivery teams .

Posted 11/10/2026full-timeRemote • Virginia • United StatesSenior💰 $149,000 - $248,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in designing and implementing generative AI and agentic AI solutions, utilizing large language models and APIs. Proven ability to lead technical discovery sessions, mentor engineers, and communicate complex technical concepts effectively.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Generative AI Solution DevelopmentLarge Language Model ExpertiseAPI Integration and DevelopmentTechnical Mentorship and CoachingClient Communication and Consulting

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Software EngineeringData EngineeringAI/ML EngineeringGenerative AI DesignModel Context Protocol (MCP)Agent-to-Agent (A2A) SolutionsRetrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)Application Development FrameworksProduction Code DevelopmentTechnical Discovery and Implementation

Soft Skills

Interpersonal CommunicationPresentation SkillsFacilitation SkillsInnovative ThinkingCollaboration

Tools & Technologies

Claude APIsClaude for EnterpriseClaude CodeEnterprise AI PlatformsData PipelinesMonitoring ToolsObservability ToolsDeveloper ToolingIntegration ServicesHuman-in-the-Loop Patterns

Certifications & Qualifications

Federal Public Trust

Industry Keywords

Forward Deployed EngineeringClient-Embedded EngineeringTechnical DirectionContinuous LearningResponsible AI Development

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead forward deployed engineering engagements with clients and multidisciplinary delivery teams
Understand complex workflows and translate business and mission needs into working AI solutions
Design, prototype, test, and deploy generative AI and agentic AI applications
Build AI solutions using large language models, APIs, developer tooling, and enterprise AI platforms
Design and implement MCP, A2A, multi-agent, RAG, tool-use, structured-output, orchestration, context-management, and human-review patterns
Lead technical discovery sessions, architecture discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on solution working sessions
Partner with users throughout implementation to gather feedback, diagnose challenges, refine solutions, and drive adoption
Architect and maintain integrations with internal and external systems using APIs, services, data pipelines, and modern application practices
Implement testing, evaluation, logging, monitoring, and observability for AI applications and agentic workflows
Diagnose technical and integration issues across applications, models, agents, APIs, data, and infrastructure
Establish reusable technical patterns and accelerators
Serve as a senior technical advisor to clients
Communicate technical concepts, solution options, risks, trade-offs, architecture decisions, and recommendations
Mentor junior and mid-level engineers through technical coaching, code review, pairing, architecture guidance, and delivery mentorship
Develop FDE playbooks, engineering standards, solution patterns, accelerators, and implementation best practices
Foster experimentation, continuous learning, collaboration, technical excellence, and responsible AI development
Capture and share lessons learned across engagements

Requirements

What you’ll need

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Federal Public Trust
Seven (7+) or more years of overall work experience
Experience in software engineering, data engineering, AI/ML engineering, solution engineering, or a related technical role
Experience as a Forward Deployed Engineer, Forward Deployed Software Engineer, Forward Deployed AI Engineer, or comparable client-embedded engineering role
Hands-on experience designing and building generative AI, large language model, or agentic AI solutions
Hands-on experience with Claude APIs, Claude for Enterprise, Claude Code, tool use, Custom Skills, or comparable enterprise large language model platforms and developer tooling
Hands-on experience with Model Context Protocol (MCP)
Hands-on experience with agent-to-agent (A2A) and multi-agent solution patterns
Hands-on experience designing and implementing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) solutions, including enterprise knowledge retrieval, embeddings, vector search, and grounding
Hands-on experience with tool use, structured outputs, context management, orchestration, and human-in-the-loop patterns
Strong software engineering experience using modern programming languages, APIs, services, and application development frameworks
Experience integrating AI applications and agents with enterprise systems, databases, APIs, tools, and data sources
Experience developing reliable, maintainable, testable, and well-documented production code
Demonstrated experience mentoring and developing engineers
Strong client communication and consulting skills
Demonstrated ability to lead technical discovery and translate ambiguous business or mission problems into actionable technical requirements and working solutions
Demonstrated experience leading complex technical implementations and providing technical direction
Demonstrated ability to think innovatively and develop creative technical solutions
Strong written, verbal, presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal communication skills
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is listed as nice to have, not required
Must be able to travel up to 10%

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Student Loan PayDown
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
Skills Development & Certifications
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
Mobility Stipend
Flexible benefits package