Forward Deployment Engineer

About Novamind Labs

Novamind Labs is dedicated to enterprise AI governance, constructing infrastructure that ensures AI is safe, auditable, and accountable for businesses. Their main product, Novie, transforms uncontrolled "Shadow AI" into structured, compliant, and production-ready AI capabilities, empowering enterprises.

Role Summary

The Forward Deployment Engineer (FDE) position is central to Novamind's hands-on customer strategy. FDEs embed themselves with enterprise clients, understanding their unique business and technical landscapes. They build practical AI solutions on the Novie platform, addressing the clients' most critical challenges. This role goes beyond traditional support or implementation by merging engineering, product development, and customer strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Integrate deeply with enterprise clients to grasp their business objectives, technical setups, and operational limitations.
• Clarify ambiguous business issues into precise technical requirements.
• Document client workflows, data sources, compliance, and governance needs.
• Develop functional AI solutions, agents, and workflows tailored to client use cases on the Novie platform.
• Configure governance mechanisms, approval processes, and human-in-the-loop checkpoints aligned with client demands.
• Integrate Novie with client systems, data repositories, and infrastructure.
• Manage the technical delivery pipeline from design through production deployment.
• Transform client-specific implementations into reusable blueprints, templates, and architecture references.
• Relay practical insights and requirements back to product and engineering teams.
• Help build a library of NAIS-compliant agents and patterns powering the Novie ecosystem.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor for stakeholders ranging from developers to CIOs.
• Ensure clients realize tangible value from Novie.
• Support the commercial team with technical knowledge throughout client engagements.

Qualifications and Requirements

• At least 3 years of experience in software engineering with proficient hands-on coding skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate directly with clients and convert business challenges into technical solutions.
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Experience integrating with APIs, data systems, and enterprise software.
• Exceptional communication skills, able to conduct in-depth technical discussions with engineers and strategic talks with executives.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
• Willing and able to travel regionally for client engagements.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Familiarity with AI/ML technologies, large language models, agent frameworks, or AI orchestration.
• Background in solutions engineering, professional services, consulting, or similar client-facing technical roles.
• Experience with enterprise integration, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and data processing pipelines.
• Knowledge of enterprise governance, security, or compliance frameworks.
• Bilingual skills in English and Mandarin or Cantonese, catering to Greater China and Asia-Pacific clients.
• Experience working at early-stage startups or building products from the ground up.

Characteristics and Mindset

• Pragmatic problem-solver focused on delivering working code that addresses customer needs.
• Comfortable acting as a bridge between customers and product teams.
• Genuinely interested in the client’s business context, not just technology.
• Capable of balancing customized client requirements with scalable, reusable solution development.

Employee Benefits

• Engage directly with the founding team and key customers in a highly impactful role.
• Influence both client outcomes and the development trajectory of the Novie platform.
• Experience diverse industry challenges related to enterprise AI.
• Contribute to one of New Zealand’s leading and most ambitious enterprise AI companies.

Additional Information

Novamind Labs supports an inclusive and diverse work environment and is an equal opportunity employer. The role is based onsite in Auckland, New Zealand, with regional travel expected for client engagements.