Forward Deployed Engineer

Clera

$110K — $150K *
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 2+ years in consulting, finance, data engineering, or analytics roles.
  • Strong SQL skills for data querying and transformation.
  • Proven ability to manage end-to-end data projects from ingestion to deployment.
  • Proficiency in Python for engineering tasks related to AI.
  • Experience with ETL processes and data modeling.
  • Skill in converting business requirements to technical solutions.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication across technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

  • Own the complete deployment process for customers in M&A and private equity.
  • Develop and enhance an AI platform alongside engineering teams.
  • Transform operational challenges into scalable AI solutions.
  • Engage in customer sales discussions to explore expansion opportunities.
  • Collaborate with executives to gather requirements and provide technical specifications.

Benefits

  • Equity participation in an early-stage company.
  • Opportunity for a high-impact role with direct C-suite access.
  • Engaged work environment in a fast-growing startup culture.
Full Job Description
About the Role

This is a rare opportunity to join a fast-growing, early-stage AI startup - backed by Y Combinator - that is building agentic AI systems for the acquisitions and private equity space. As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you'll sit at the intersection of customers and product, translating complex, real-world business problems into autonomous software that actually ships. You'll report directly to the C-suite, own customer deployments end-to-end, and help shape the core platform alongside a lean, high-velocity team in New York.

This role is ideal for a scrappy builder with a business mind - someone equally comfortable talking to a CFO as they are writing a SQL pipeline. Prior exposure to private equity, M&A, or roll-up environments is a strong plus.

Note: US citizenship or valid work authorization is required. Visa sponsorship is not available.
What You'll Do
  • Own customer deployments end-to-end - from scoping and business logic translation to data ingestion, pipeline delivery, and ongoing optimization - primarily with mid-market to large-cap operators.
  • Build and extend an agentic AI platform in close collaboration with the core engineering team.
  • Translate real-world operational complexity into scalable, autonomous software solutions.
  • Join sales calls and identify customer expansion opportunities in support of go-to-market efforts.
  • Work directly with non-technical stakeholders (executives, operators, business leaders) to surface requirements and turn them into technical specifications.
What We're Looking For

Required:
  • 2+ years of experience in consulting, finance, data engineering, or analytics roles.
  • Strong SQL proficiency - querying, transforming, and wrangling messy data.
  • Demonstrated ownership of end-to-end data projects including ingestion, pipeline development, and production deployment.
  • Python proficiency (or a clear track record of picking up languages quickly) for data engineering and AI integration tasks.
  • Experience with ETL processes, data modeling, or data warehouse design.
  • Ability to translate business requirements into technical specifications and data solutions.
  • Excellent communication skills - comfortable working with executives and operators, not just engineers.
  • US citizenship or existing work authorization (no sponsorship available).

Nice to Have:
  • Hands-on experience building with LLM APIs, AI tools, or agentic workflows (personal projects count).
  • Experience building internal data platforms, migration pipelines, or process automation systems.
  • Domain knowledge in private equity, roll-ups, M&A, or multi-system enterprise environments.
  • Proficiency with Excel for data analysis and business logic modeling.

You'll thrive here if you are:
  • Scrappy, autonomous, and action-oriented - you ship first and iterate fast.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and unstructured problems.
  • Energized by direct customer interaction and real-world business complexity.
Compensation & Benefits
  • Salary: $110,000 - $150,000 USD annually, based on experience.
  • Early-stage equity participation.
  • High-ownership, high-impact role with direct access to company leadership.
Location

This is a full-time, on-site role based in New York, NY. Candidates must be willing to work in-office. Remote or hybrid arrangements are not available for this position.

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