Forward Deployed AI Engineer - Associate Director

At EY, we're all in to shape your future with confidence.

We'll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.

The Opportunity

As an Associate Director in EY's Forward Deployed Engineering team, you will support the design, development, and deployment of AI-driven, data-centric solutions within strategic client environments. This role blends strong technical expertise with emerging leadership capabilities to contribute to business impact through collaboration with client teams and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Engagement & Solution Support

• Collaborate with senior client stakeholders and technical teams to support AI and data strategy initiatives.

• Assist in the full lifecycle of solution development-from problem definition, architecture design, prototyping, deployment, to scaling and adoption.

• Help align client technology roadmaps with business objectives and emerging AI trends.

• Forward Deployment & Engineering Execution

• Develop and implement AI and LLM-powered applications leveraging Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), autonomous agents, and orchestration frameworks.

• Demonstrate proficiency in Python and agent frameworks such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, or AutoGen.

• Rapidly develop functional prototypes and production-ready demos within project timelines.

• Commercial & Growth Enablement

• Support identification and pursuit of technical expansion opportunities to accelerate account growth.

• Contribute to proposal development, technical demos, and client engagements by articulating AI/ML capabilities and business value.

• Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Leadership & Team Collaboration

• Mentor and guide junior engineers and data scientists within cross-functional pods.

• Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement.

• Contribute to the refinement of EY's Forward Deployed Engineering frameworks, best practices, and technical capabilities.

Skills and Attributes for Success

• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced client environments.
• Strong hands-on AI/ML engineering skills combined with emerging solution leadership capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial awareness focused on delivering measurable business outcomes.
• Passion for AI, cloud-native architectures, and emerging technologies.

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years in software engineering, data engineering, or AI/ML solution delivery.
• Proven experience delivering scalable AI/ML solutions in client-facing or collaborative roles.
• Solid expertise in machine learning, generative AI, NLP, computer vision, data platforms, and big data technologies.
• Experience with cloud-native development, microservices, container orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker).
• Proficiency with cloud platforms: Azure, AWS, GCP.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices including CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible), monitoring, and logging.
• Exposure to agentic architectures, multi-agent orchestration, or cognitive harness patterns.
• Consulting or technical delivery experience with enterprise clients.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to complex technical engagements and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of MLOps, LLMOps, AI governance, ethical AI frameworks, and model interpretability tools.
• Industry-specific expertise (financial services, healthcare, energy).
• Experience supporting sales, pursuits, or account growth initiatives.

What we offer you

The compensation ranges below are provided in order to comply with United States pay transparency laws. Other geographies will follow their local salary guidelines, which may not be a direct conversion of published US salary ranges. At EY, we'll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We'll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learn more.

• We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you'll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $156,400 to $301,000. The base salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $187,600 to $342,000. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
• Join us in our team-led and leader-enabled hybrid model. Our expectation is for most people in external, client serving roles to work together in person 40-60% of the time over the course of an engagement, project or year.
• Under our flexible vacation policy, you'll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You'll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

EY accepts applications for this position on an on-going basis.

For those living in California, please click here for additional information.

EY focuses on high-ethical standards and integrity among its employees and expects all candidates to demonstrate these qualities.

EY | Building a better working world

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.

EY provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected basis, including arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable law.

EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities including veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during any part of the application process, please call 1-800-EY-HELP3, select Option 2 for candidate related inquiries, then select Option 1 for candidate queries and finally select Option 2 for candidates with an inquiry which will route you to EY's Talent Shared Services Team (TSS) or email the TSS at ssc.customersupport@ey.com.