Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)  Global AI Solutions

Locations: San Francisco

Compensation: OTE $300,000 (base variable, uncapped) equity. We publish ranges in later stages and calibrate to experience and location.

About Perle.ai

Perle powers ambitious AI initiatives with human intelligence at scale. We help leading teams design, evaluate, and improve AI systems so they are accurate, responsible, and ready for real-world impact. We’re early-stage and founder-led, and we win by delivering outcomes—not hype.

The Opportunity

We’re building a team of Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) - operators who sit beside our clients to diagnose, design, and deliver measurable results. You’ll bridge product, data science, and operations, turning complex requirements into working solutions. If you enjoy partnering with executives and engineers, and you measure success by business outcomes you helped create, you’ll thrive here.

What you’ll do

• Discover & scope: Lead structured discovery across technical and business teams; map workflows, data needs, risks, and success metrics.
• Design solutions: Architect human-in-the-loop and evaluation programs that improve model performance, reliability, and compliance.
• Deliver impact: Work hands-on with client and Perle teams to implement, iterate, and verify outcomes; make data-driven recommendations.
• Engage stakeholders: Communicate clearly with C-suite and technical leaders; translate between business goals and technical plans.
• Grow accounts: Identify new use cases, build board-ready business cases, and expand programs based on measurable results.
• Improve how we work: Feed insights to Product, Engineering, and Operations to sharpen our playbooks and platform.

What you bring (must-haves)

• Track record of outcomes in AI/data operations, solutions engineering, or enterprise consulting (typically 7-10 years).
• Comfort collaborating with both executives and technical builders; you translate across domains with clarity and empathy.
• Experience designing or operating human-in-the-loop / evaluation workflows (or adjacent complex data programs).
• Process discipline: planning, documentation, forecasting progress, and using CRM/PM tools to keep multi-party projects on track.
• Ownership and adaptability in fast-moving, early-stage environments.

If you meet most of the requirements but not every single one, we encourage you to apply. We value growth potential and transferable experience.

Nice to have

• Background in data science, ML evaluation, safety, or MLOps.
• Experience in high-stakes domains (e.g., regulated or mission-critical environments).
• Prior “forward-deployed” or customer-embedded work (consulting, SE/FDE, field engineering).
• Building playbooks, mentoring teammates, or leading cross-functional initiatives.

How we support you

• Flexibility: Hybrid/remote options and predictable core collaboration hours.
• Inclusive benefits: Comprehensive health coverage; generous paid time off; parental leave; caregiving and wellness support.
• Growth: Access to senior mentors; clear development goals; opportunities to lead initiatives as we scale.
• Fair pay & process: Transparent compensation philosophy; structured interviews and work samples; we don’t ask for salary history.

Our commitment

Perle.ai is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome teammates from all backgrounds and actively work to ensure a respectful, supportive environment for everyone to do their best work. If we can make the interview process more accessible for you, please let us know.