Forward Deployed Engineer (Industrial AI)

Forward Deployed Engineer (Industrial AI) TRC Staffing•3.6 Palo Alto, CA Job Details Full-time $110,000•$220,000 a year 1 day ago Qualifications Client relationship management Azure Software implementation Application deployment IT infrastructure VLAN Production systems AWS Docker Customer relationship management Relationship management Scope management System deployment Linux PLC networking Python Manufacturing control systems

Full Job Description Role:

Forward Deployed Engineer (Industrial AI)

Client :

Confidential•

Fast-Growth Industrial AI & Computer Vision Startup Location :

Hybrid / 25-50% Travel (Open to major hubs: ATL, CHI, NY, DEN, IND, PHX, and Montreal, Canada)

Compensation:

$110,000•$180,000 Base (Aggressive upside up to $220k for elite talent) + Equity Why Partner with TRC Talent Solutions on This? You won't be throwing your resume into a black hole. TRC has a direct line to the executive leadership team for this rapidly scaling AI startup. When we submit you, you bypass the standard queue and go straight to the decision-makers. We manage the feedback loop, negotiate on your behalf, and ensure your unique mix of software and industrial expertise is properly highlighted. The Reality of the Role This isn't a desk job. Our client is deploying cutting-edge, vision-to-action AI into heavy manufacturing environments (Food & Beverage, Cement, Steel, Lumber). We need a consultative individual who can walk onto a warehouse floor, earn the immediate credibility of the Plant Manager, and successfully bridge the gap between legacy factory systems and modern cloud architecture. You will be handed a signed customer and asked to make the system work in the real world.

What You'll Actually Do:

The Grit:

Physically deploy edge devices (like NVIDIA Jetson) into live facilities, accounting for real-world variables like lighting, pooling water, and forklift traffic.

The Tech:

Integrate AI vision systems with customer OT/IT stacks using OPC-UA, Modbus, PLCs, and HMIs, while managing data pipelines back to AWS/Azure using Python and Docker.

The Customer:

Act as the primary technical point of contact. You must be comfortable having difficult conversations, managing scope creep ("No, we cannot do that on this line today"), and training operators on the floor.

The Profile We Need:

You have production Python, Linux, and Docker experience. You know your way around a PLC and industrial networking (TCP/IP, VLANs). You have shipped and supported software deployed directly into customer infrastructure. You know how to scope a project and manage customer expectations without burning the relationship.

The Interview Process:

Our client moves incredibly fast. Through TRC, if you are a fit, you can expect an offer in hand within a week. 1.

TRC Strategy Session:

A quick prep call with me to align on compensation, travel tolerance, and tailor your profile for our direct submittal to the hiring manager. 2.Client Discovery (15 mins): A brief alignment call with the client's internal talent team to confirm baseline fit. 3.Technical Deep Dive (30-60 mins): A technical interview with the Project Management and Deployment Engineering team to test your production deployment and scoping experience. 4.

Executive Sign-off & Offer:

A final 30-minute conversation with the CTO focused on culture add and strategic vision, followed immediately by a decision.

Pay:

$110,000.00•$220,000.00 per year

Work Location:

In person