Forward Deployed OperationsThe roleA trillion-dollar industry runs on knowledge nobody wrote down - what the data means, what the operation actually needs, what users are motivated by, and where the leverage hides. This role synthesizes those disconnected streams into one thing: a clear read on the most important problem to solve next. Then you build the thing that solves it.
You'll embed with the operators who run Harper - sales, service, underwriting, carrier relations - learn the operation end-to-end, find the 20% of friction causing 80% of the drag, and ship the thing that removes it. One day you're chasing a stalled quote with an underwriter. The next you're shipping the automation that makes sure no quote stalls again. The day after, you're on a customer call, feeding what you heard into a product spec. You run the operation and you improve the operation - both, always. It takes a curious, analytical mind, sharp product intuition, and genuine empathy for the people doing the work.
What you'll do- Find the leverage. Sit with operators, watch the work, and surface the automations nobody built because nobody knew they were possible yet.
- Run the operation. Underwriter follow-ups, carrier communications, customer calls, keeping deals moving through the pipeline. You're in the work, not above it.
- Build fast. AI agents, internal tools, workflow automations - prototype in days, ship in weeks.
- Instrument everything. Write SQL, pull the data, build the dashboard. Prove what you shipped moved a number - in business terms, not feature terms.
- Shape what gets built next. Translate operational pain into product requirements. The patterns you spot become the things engineering builds next.
- Move where it's urgent. Context-switch across functions based on what matters most this week. Scope doesn't respect org charts here.
Who you are- You've shipped internal tools or automations end-to-end - not just designed them.
- You've also run real operations: customer-facing, process-heavy, or both. You know what it feels like when a system breaks at 7 AM.
- You measure yourself in business outcomes: "conversion went up 15%," not "the feature shipped."
- You can walk into a room of non-technical operators, explain why a number moved, and have them trust you.
- You'd rather own a messy problem end-to-end than execute a clean task someone handed you.
- You've been exceptional at something before, and you're looking for the place that finally matches your ceiling.
Requirements: 2-4 years in a high-pace environment (startup, operations, consulting, or engineering); a track record of building and shipping things that ran in production - internal tools, automations, workflows; comfortable in SQL and at least one of Python or TypeScript; hands-on with AI coding tools (Cursor, Claude Code, or equivalent), not just aware of them; strong written and verbal communication with both technical and non-technical audiences; based in San Francisco or willing to relocate immediately.
Nice to have: LLMs, AI agents, or voice AI experience; a background in insurance, fintech, or another regulated, high-stakes industry; prior startup or founder experience; solutions engineering, operations, or customer success experience.
The realityThis is on-site in San Francisco, in person, long days, high standards. A real share of the week is follow-ups, chasing, coordination, and cleanup - the operational backbone, done well. The system-building is earned by doing the unglamorous work first.
Ambiguity is the job, not a phase. Scope shifts week to week. If you need a fixed lane and a clean spec, you'll be uncomfortable here.
The ceiling is high and real. People who are exceptional here go on to run functions, lead teams, or start companies - because they've seen how the whole business works. That's the payoff, and it's on the other side of the grind.
Compensation & logistics- Salary: $125,000-$170,000 depending on experience + performance bonuses & equity
- Location: San Francisco, in-office. Based in SF or willing to relocate.
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, very early morning start, in-office five days a week.
- Benefits: Uber commuter benefits; breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided; snacks, drinks, and coffee daily; free gym membership; health, dental, and vision insurance.
Process- 15-min founder call - alignment on mission and pace.
- Technical screen - a real operations and build problem; we want to see how you diagnose and what you'd ship.
- Super Day on-site - meet the team, sit in on the operation, do real work alongside us.
To applySend your resume and tell us about something you built that moved a measurable business number - and a broken process you've fixed. Both matter here.
