Founding Forward-Deployed Engineer

Founding Forward‑Deployed EngineerLocation: NYC (Preferred) or SF Hybrid – 25‑50% travel to law‑enforcement customersJob Duration: Full‑Time PermanentSalary: $85,000 – $140,000 per yearRelocation Assistance: NoVisa Sponsorship: NoJob OverviewAs a founding Forward‑Deployed Engineer, you will operate at the intersection of product development, full‑stack engineering, and field operations. You will embed directly with detectives, analysts, and prosecutors to observe workflows, identify where evidence review slows investigations, and deploy a sophisticated platform that transcribes, searches, and analyzes massive volumes of digital evidence. You will ship production‑ready features across the full stack using Python, React, TypeScript, and AI/ML APIs while owning pilots end‑to‑end, traveling 25‑75% of the time to customer sites in the United States.ResponsibilitiesEmbed with detectives, analysts, and prosecutors to learn their workflows.Observe field operations and identify pain points in evidence review.Deploy, configure, and validate Closure's platform for new agencies.Build one‑off analyses, custom integrations, and scrappy fixes to unblock customers.Translate field insights into concrete product ideas and partner with founders to ship them.Ship full‑stack features in Python, React, TypeScript, and AI/ML APIs.Own pilots end‑to‑end: run deployments, training sessions, and rollouts.Act as the trusted technical partner for investigators and leadership teams.Qualifications3+ years of full‑stack software engineering experience shipping production features.Strong proficiency in Python and a modern frontend stack (TypeScript/React or similar).Experience building on top of AI/ML APIs such as OpenAI or Anthropic.Comfortable working across the stack, from frontend UI to backend services.Customer‑facing experience in roles such as forward‑deployed engineer, solutions engineer, or early‑stage founder.Ability to translate messy real‑world requirements into clear product and technical decisions.Strong communication skills – able to explain technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.High ownership mindset – comfortable owning deployments end‑to‑end in a small, fast‑moving team.Mission‑driven and motivated by impact on public safety and the criminal‑justice system.Willingness to travel 25–75% of the time to law‑enforcement agencies across the U.S.Nice to HaveExperience deploying software in regulated or sensitive environments (government, defense, healthcare, fintech).Familiarity with RAG, vector search, or LLM‑powered applications.Prior exposure to public‑sector or law‑enforcement workflows.Willingness to undergo CJIS clearance and FBI background checks.Ideal CandidateField‑driven full‑stack engineer who enjoys working directly with users.Customer‑obsessed problem solver capable of building trust with detectives and agency leadership.High‑ownership operator thriving in tiny, fast‑moving teams.Mission‑motivated and comfortable handling sensitive case material.Startup‑ready with experience in early‑stage or talent‑dense environments.Must‑Have Requirements3+ years of professional software engineering experience across backend and frontend.Experience working directly with customers or end users in roles such as solutions engineer or forward‑deployed engineer.Willingness to travel 25–75% of the time to law‑enforcement agencies.High ownership and startup mindset with experience in small, fast‑paced teams.Strong communication skills translating between technical and non‑technical stakeholders.BenefitsRetirement/401kHealth InsuranceVision InsuranceDental InsuranceUnlimited PTOPaid Short‑ & Long‑term DisabilityInsurance‑Paid Life InsuranceEquity 0.20% – 1.00% and performance‑based bonusesU.S.‑based role with visa sponsorship available for strong candidates (no H1B)3% contribution to your 401(k) regardless of your own contributionSupport through FBI background checks and CJIS clearance processWe are committed to an inclusive workplace that does not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, religion, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity. We believe in diversity and encourage any qualified individual to apply. We are an EEOC Employer.#J-18808-Ljbffr