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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead hands-on deployments of AI solutions in complex environments, writing production-grade code and building integrations.
- Company: Join Windward, a maritime AI leader transforming global trade with actionable insights from massive datasets.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options, autonomy, and the chance to tackle high-impact global challenges.
- Other info: Expect travel across Europe and engage in high-pressure environments while owning customer outcomes.
- Why this job: Work directly with users, solve real problems quickly, and be part of an elite, tight-knit team.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in software or devops engineering, strong coding skills, and experience with data pipelines and cloud infrastructure.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
Windward is a maritime AI leader helping governments and enterprises navigate risk, compliance, and geopolitical uncertainty across global trade. Our platform transforms massive unstructured datasets into real-time, actionable insights. From intercepting dark fleet tankers to predicting supply chain disruptions, we enable confident, data-driven decisions.
The Role
We are looking for a Forward Deployed AI Engineer (FDE) to lead hands-on deployments of our platform in complex, high-impact environments. Our customers include governments, defense organizations, maritime companies, traders and global logistics leaders. You will operate at the intersection of software engineering, customer success, and operational delivery. This is a hands-on engineering role. You will write production-grade code, build APIs, develop integrations, and deliver custom features that solve real problems. You’ll own execution end to end, from scoping to merging to master and will have opportunities to contribute learning and workflows from customers to our product suite. This is not a sales engineering role. It is for builders who want to work directly with users and move fast. You’ll be in the room with end-users, writing code, and delivering value in days or weeks - not quarters.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the technical deployment of Windward’s platform for strategic customers
- Write clean, scalable production code to build integrations, APIs, scripts, and microservices
- Develop tools that transform unstructured data (like AIS, port calls, or vessel documents) into insights
- Work with Product and Engineering to shape our roadmap based on what matters in the field
- Rapidly prototype and iterate on new features and use cases
- Engage directly with technical users and analysts to solve operational challenges
- Operate independently within customer environments, when required
Required Skills and Experience
- At least 3 years of experience as a software engineer or devops engineer with concrete development experience
- Strong coding skills with at least one of the following: python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Node.js, React
- Experience working with data pipelines, APIs, and cloud infrastructure (especially AWS and Docker)
- Comfortable working in high-pressure or sensitive environments
- Strong interpersonal skills and confidence working directly with both technical and operational teams
- Able to ship fast, iterate quickly, and deliver measurable results
- Familiarity with domain-specific data (geospatial, maritime, trade, logistics) is a plus
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience as a Forward Deployed Engineer or similar role at Palantir or another vertical AI company
- Past experience building solutions with LLMs and a deep understanding of the overall Gen AI landscape
- Experience with modern development process using Cursor, Windsurf, copilot and similar tools
- Background working with government, intelligence, defense, logistics, or maritime sectors
- Experience deploying software in secure or mission-critical environments
- Track record of owning customer outcomes end-to-end
Why Windward
- High-impact work with global relevance
- Tight-knit, elite team with minimal bureaucracy
- Ownership from day one, autonomy to move fast
- Work on some of the world’s most interesting problems at the edge of technology and geopolitics
- Hybrid work from our London office (Blackfriars), 3 days a week in-office
- Travel across Europe expected, approximately 25 - 30%, at times on short notice
Forward Deployed AI Engineer employer: Windward
Contact Detail:
Windward Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Forward Deployed AI Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the maritime industry and its specific challenges. Understanding the nuances of maritime trade, compliance, and geopolitical risks will help you engage more effectively with potential clients and demonstrate your expertise during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Brush up on your coding skills, particularly in Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript. Since this role requires writing production-grade code, being able to showcase your coding abilities through practical examples or projects can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with professionals in the AI and maritime sectors. Attend relevant meetups, webinars, or conferences to connect with individuals who work in similar roles. This can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience in high-pressure environments. The role involves working directly with users and delivering results quickly, so be ready to share examples of how you've successfully navigated challenging situations in previous positions.
We think you need these skills to ace Forward Deployed AI Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Forward Deployed AI Engineer position. Familiarise yourself with Windward's platform and how it operates in high-impact environments.
Tailor Your CV: Highlight your relevant experience in software engineering or devops, especially any work with APIs, data pipelines, and cloud infrastructure. Make sure to showcase your coding skills in languages like Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for the role and the company. Discuss specific projects where you've deployed software in sensitive environments and how you’ve engaged with technical users to solve real problems.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, provide examples of how you've rapidly prototyped and iterated on features in previous roles. Emphasise your ability to deliver measurable results and your comfort working under pressure.
How to prepare for a job interview at Windward
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to demonstrate your coding abilities during the interview. Bring examples of your work, especially projects involving Python, JavaScript, or cloud infrastructure. This role requires hands-on engineering, so showing your production-grade code will impress the interviewers.
✨Understand the Company’s Mission
Familiarise yourself with Windward's platform and its impact on global trade and maritime operations. Understanding how their AI solutions help customers navigate risks will allow you to align your answers with their goals and showcase your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Prepare for Real-World Scenarios
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in high-pressure environments. Think of examples from your past experiences where you had to deploy solutions quickly or work directly with users to resolve operational challenges. This will demonstrate your ability to thrive in the role.
✨Highlight Interpersonal Skills
Since this role involves direct engagement with technical users and analysts, be ready to discuss your interpersonal skills. Share experiences where you successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams or communicated complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.