Forward Deployed Engineer London, UK

Polaron is a spin-out from Imperial College London, founded by Dr Isaac Squires, Dr Steve Kench, and Dr Sam Cooper. The founders share a mission: to harness engineering, artificial intelligence, and materials science to design the materials of the future. Our vision is to become the world leader at the interface between AI and materials, combining scientific rigour with engineering pragmatism to enable the next generation of sustainable, high-performance materials.

Our work isn’t just about hard, scientific problems - it’s about the urgency and impact of solving them. Advanced materials underpin all aspects of modern life: from the batteries that power electric vehicles to the alloys used in turbines and the composites that make aircraft lighter. Accelerating how these materials are developed, designed, and manufactured has a direct impact on the world’s ability to build a more sustainable future.

We’re developing a cloud-based SaaS platform that empowers materials engineers to use state-of-the-art image-based AI without friction, helping them generate insights and accelerate innovation with minimal effort.

Our key stats:

• Team of 12 people today, growing fast.
• Based in East London (Shoreditch Exchange, Hoxton).
• Backed by cutting-edge research and strong industry partnerships.

What we’re building:

At Polaron, we’re building the next generation of tools that enable materials scientists and manufacturers to leverage state-of-the-art AI vision models, all without ever leaving their web browser. Our application consists of:

• Data-intensive visual interface that enables users to explore, interact with, and analyse complex datasets (including high-resolution image data) directly in the browser built for performance and fluidity at scale.
• Interactive visualisation and analysis tools that combine 2D, 3D, and graph plotting.
• Computational orchestration layer that connects the frontend experience with machine learning models, allowing users to run sophisticated analyses and simulations seamlessly.
• Scalable AI infrastructure for training, serving, and executing complex machine learning workflows across distributed environments.

Why we’re hiring:

We’re entering a phase of rapid product adoption and platform scaling, with customers deploying our technology into real-world research and manufacturing environments. To support this growth, we’re hiring a Forward Deployed Engineer who will work at the intersection of our product, customers, and our engineering teams. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role for someone who wants to see their work directly enable breakthroughs in materials development and manufacturing. You’ll work closely with our customers, apply deep technical and domain expertise, and help shape how our platform evolves based on real-world usage.

Responsibilities:

• Pre-Sale Develop: Deliver polished technical demos showcasing platform capabilities. Assist sales teams by scoping opportunities and preparing proposals. Perform bespoke analysis as part of closing contracts.
• Post-Sale Deliver: High-quality onboarding to ensure seamless adoption. Support on delivering pilot programmes, including project management and technical delivery. Support with customer retention - feedback sessions, gathering insights, bespoke development, and direct support.
• Collaboration & Representation: Act as the bridge between customers and internal teams, influencing product roadmaps. Represent Polaron at industry events and create thought leadership content, strengthening our position as a leader in materials innovation.

Our hiring process:

• Intro Call (20 min): Get to know you, your experience, and your motivation.
• Situational interview (1hr): In this interview we will emulate realistic problems faced day to day in the FDE role and assess your reasoning skills. Also a chance to learn more about Polaron and the team.
• Paid Trial Day: Work with the team on a real FDE challenge (remote or onsite).
• Final Debrief & Offer.

We value transparency and fast feedback at every step.

Requirements:

• Masters degree minimum in a technical field including Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or Materials Science.
• 2+ years professional experience.
• Proven experience working in industrial materials science or manufacturing environments.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to interact with clients and internal stakeholders effectively.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently as well as within a team environment.

Bonus Points:

• Masters or PhD in a Battery related field.
• Startup/entrepreneurial mindset.
• Natural leader - happy to help us develop/refine processes as the company grows.

Mindset and values:

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is scientifically curious and thrives on complex, technical challenges.
• Works with low ego and collaborates transparently.
• Enjoys autonomy but knows when to ask questions and seek alignment.
• Has a long-term mindset: ready to help build a company, not just a product.
• Communicates openly and values shared learning.

Team and culture:

You’ll join a small, tight-knit group of engineers and scientists who are building Polaron’s product and culture together. We operate with:

• High trust and ownership.
• Pragmatism over dogma.
• Curiosity, humility, and scientific discipline.
• A strong focus on quality, impact, and long-term maintainability.

What we value at Polaron:

• STEM mindset: genuine curiosity for science and the physical world.
• Hunger to learn: proactive, self-driven, and impact-oriented.
• Pragmatism: you prefer solutions that work over theoretical perfection.
• Low ego & empathy: you lift others up, you listen, you share knowledge.
• Long-term commitment: you want to grow with the company and shape its journey.

We’re a largely office-based company, with typically 4 days a week in office and 1 day WFH.

Salary & Benefits:

• Salary: £65,000-85,000 depending on experience
• Equity: meaningful stock options in a growing company
• Holidays: 25 days + 2 “festive leave” days
• Perks: gym membership, free barista coffee
• Location: Shoreditch Exchange (Hoxton, London)