Principal Forward Deployed Engineer I

Snowflake

. Build durable, peer-level relationships with CTOs, VPs of Engineering, chief architects, and heads of data/AI at strategic accounts .

Posted 10/16/2026full-timeMenlo Park • California • United StatesLead💰 $264,000 - $379,500 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive expertise in building and executing AI architectures, including RAG pipelines and multi-step agentic systems, while effectively communicating technical strategies to executive stakeholders. Proven ability to mentor engineering teams and enhance engineering standards across organizations.

Highest-signal resume keywords

15+ Years Software Engineering ExperienceProduction AI Architectures ExpertiseTechnical Advisor to CTOsHands-On Production Code ExperienceStrong Technical Communication Skills

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

AI/ML Systems DevelopmentProduction Code WritingArchitectural SteeringEvaluation FrameworksEngineering Standards ReviewTechnical ReviewsComplex Technical InitiativesReusable Platforms DevelopmentAgentic SystemsQuality Measurement and Improvement

Soft Skills

MentoringRelationship BuildingStrategic AlignmentCross-Functional CollaborationTechnical Communication

Tools & Technologies

Cortex AISnowparkEnterprise Data Infrastructure PlatformsOpen-Source AI Frameworks

Industry Keywords

AI RoadmapsHigh-Visibility AI EngagementsCustomer ProgramsCommercial Data PlatformsTechnical Publications

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build durable, peer-level relationships with CTOs, VPs of Engineering, chief architects, and heads of data/AI at strategic accounts
Lead architectural steering, technical reviews, and executive strategy alignment to shape customer AI roadmaps
Own end-to-end technical execution and outcomes across complex, high-visibility AI engagements
Write production code and working prototypes for critical parts of customer programs
Review designs and code to set engineering standards
Lead measurement and improvement of AI quality by turning ambiguous customer goals into clear, testable evaluation standards
Mentor Senior and Staff engineers and raise engineering standards across the organization
Partner with cross-functional leads to drive complex technical initiatives
Spend at least 25% of time onsite working with customers

Requirements

What you’ll need

15+ years of software engineering experience, including at least 3 years building and shipping production AI/ML or agentic systems at enterprise scale
Proven track record as a trusted technical advisor to CTOs and executive engineering leaders at large enterprises
Demonstrated success converting client/field delivery patterns into reusable platforms, tools, frameworks, or open-source libraries
Deep expertise in production AI architectures, including RAG pipelines, multi-step agentic systems, evaluation frameworks, and guardrails
Hands-on experience writing and reviewing production code
Strong systems mindset and exceptional technical communication skills across technical and executive audiences
Experience shipping features into a commercial data or AI platform, based on customer requirements is preferred
Active contributions to open-source AI frameworks, technical publications, or industry speaking engagements are preferred
Familiarity with Cortex AI, Snowpark, or modern enterprise data infrastructure platforms is preferred