At a Glance
- Tasks: Customise AI solutions for pharma and biotech, solving high-impact problems.
- Company: Join a pioneering team at the intersection of AI and biology.
- Benefits: Friendly work culture, international team, and hands-on experience.
- Other info: Great opportunity for growth in a fast-evolving environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in healthcare with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Fluency in Python and experience with APIs; curiosity and adaptability are key.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
We are seeking exceptional Forward Deployed Engineers to join our team at the frontier of AI and biology. In this role, you will work hand-in-hand with cutting-edge pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to solve high-leverage problems by customizing our agentic AI platform, Owkin K, for such customers. You will also help shape the future of our product by distilling insights from the field back into the platform.
You will operate at the intersection of these core skill areas:
- Engineering execution: You translate domain understanding into robust, scalable systems. From rapid prototyping to production-grade deployments, you’ll build full-stack AI solutions on top of Owkin K that drive value across the customer’s workflow and organizational layers.
- Customer collaboration: You work side-by-side with pharma and biotechnology customers to uncover needs, validate ideas, and iterate quickly. Your ability to listen, understand, adapt, co-create and communicate is key to driving adoption, ensuring usability, and delivering solutions that stick.
- Navigating Complex and Regulated Environments: You excel at quickly integrating into intricate client organizations and effectively balancing the demands of diverse stakeholders. Your experience in highly regulated sectors (preferably Pharma, but also Financial Services, Utilities, Telcos, or Defence) means you are skilled at working within constraints and proactively developing fitting and inventive solutions.
Domain expertise (Nice-to-have / not must-have): You’ve had exposure to the Pharma business and/or have good understanding about computational biology, biostatistics, and/or medical imaging, and a good understanding of the typical drug development pipeline. This enables you to deeply understand complex scientific use cases presented by the customers, identify opportunities for impact, and ensure that every solution aligns with real business value. As the current team already has deep expertise in these areas, this is not a strong prerequisite.
In particular, you will:
- Embed deeply with users to solve high-leverage problems by customizing and extending Owkin’s agentic platform K;
- Design, build, and ship tailored solutions on top of Owkin K, guiding them from conception through final delivery;
- Drive rapid prototyping and iteration to validate solutions early and frequently;
- Balance scope, speed, and quality, adapting plans to ensure successful delivery;
- Communicate clearly across technical and non-technical stakeholders to align expectations;
- Collaborate with Customer Success Managers, Product and Engineering teams to guarantee effective delivery, client satisfaction, and sustained adoption of Owkin’s product;
- Turn proven patterns into reusable, scalable components, tools, and playbooks;
- Share feedback from the field with Product and Engineering teams to shape the roadmap.
About you: Above all, we seek curious individuals who are driven to learn through hands‑on experience and who embrace a strong bias for action. In addition to this, the following skills are required:
- Fluency in Python, with experience in software development best practices including testing, CI/CD pipelines, and code reviews;
- Experience working with LLMs;
- Experience working with APIs with frameworks such as FastAPI or Flask;
- Ability to simplify complexity and make fast, sound decisions under time pressure;
- Communicate effectively across diverse audiences: technical teams, product managers and non‑technical stakeholders. Adapt language and detail to ensure clarity and alignment;
- Thrive in fast‑evolving environments by staying flexible, embracing ambiguity, and proactively driving progress despite incomplete information;
- Experience with agentic workflows;
- Familiarity with cloud platforms;
- Understanding of the drug development pipeline and related scientific workflows;
- Good understanding of biostatistics, computational biology, and/or medical imaging.
What we offer:
- Friendly and informal working environment;
- Opportunity to work with an international team with high technical and scientific backgrounds.
Owkin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.
Forward Deployed Engineer employer: Owkin
Owkin offers an exceptional work environment for Forward Deployed Engineers, where innovation meets collaboration at the forefront of AI and biology. With a friendly and informal culture, employees benefit from working alongside an international team of experts, fostering both personal and professional growth. The company prioritises hands-on experience and encourages a proactive approach to problem-solving, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and impactful work in a rapidly evolving field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Forward Deployed Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their projects, values, and culture. This way, when you get that interview, you can show them you’re not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about what they do.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a referral, which is a golden ticket in the job hunt!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills align with the role of a Forward Deployed Engineer. Highlight your experience with Python, APIs, and any relevant projects that showcase your problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Owkin!
We think you need these skills to ace Forward Deployed Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and biology shine through! We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about the role and how you can contribute to our mission at StudySmarter.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in software development and any exposure to the pharmaceutical industry. We love seeing how your skills align with what we do, so don’t hold back on those details!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to complex topics. Use simple language to explain your past projects and how they relate to the role of a Forward Deployed Engineer.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Owkin
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in Python and the software development best practices mentioned in the job description. Brush up on your experience with LLMs and APIs, especially FastAPI or Flask. Being able to discuss your technical skills confidently will show that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Understand the Pharma Landscape
Even if you don’t have extensive experience in the pharmaceutical sector, it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with the drug development pipeline and related scientific workflows. This knowledge will help you connect better with potential clients and demonstrate your ability to tackle complex problems.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Prepare examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated with diverse teams in the past. Highlight your ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This role requires a lot of teamwork, so showing that you can adapt your communication style is key.
✨Embrace Ambiguity and Flexibility
Be ready to discuss how you thrive in fast-evolving environments. Share experiences where you’ve had to make quick decisions under pressure or adapt to changing circumstances. This will demonstrate your bias for action and your ability to drive progress even when things aren’t clear-cut.
