<p> </p> <h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><strong>Staff Forward Deployed AI Developer</strong></h2> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">We're looking for a Staff Forward Deployed AI Developer to lead the design, delivery, and adoption of AI/ML systems directly within client environments. This role is ideal for an experienced developer who thrives on architectural decisions, can own systems end-to-end, and drives real outcomes at the intersection of technical depth and client partnership.</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">In this role, you will embed with clients as a key technical leader, defining AI architecture, leading model development and optimization, and solving challenging integration problems in live enterprise environments. You'll parachute into in-flight work where reliability, security, and scalability are critical — and you'll be the person who makes it land. You'll raise the bar on how we build and deploy AI systems, and help clients actually adopt and scale what we ship.</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><strong>Why This Role Matters</strong></p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">At Robots & Pencils, we design AI systems for a human world. Our name says it all. Robots and pencils means engineering paired with creativity, because every agent we ship has to work for real people in real workflows. That balance is baked into how we operate.</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">Every role here contributes directly to that mission. Here, you shape how AI systems integrate into enterprise operations, how teams move at real velocity, and how products create measurable impact for clients and the people they serve. We ship production-ready AI in 30 to 45 days. That pace demands people who take ownership, lead with craft, and care deeply about what they put their name on.</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><strong>What You'll Do</strong></p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><em>Craft & Delivery</em></p> <ul class="[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Lead the design and implementation of complex ML/AI systems end-to-end within client environments, owning architecture decisions and driving solutions from research through production at scale</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Build, deploy, and evolve scalable ML platforms, pipelines, and infrastructure that support reliable, repeatable model development and deployment — often within existing client constraints</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Diagnose and unblock integration challenges in live systems, adapting quickly to unfamiliar codebases, cloud environments, and organizational contexts</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Set the standard for AI-forward engineering, using tools like Claude and Cursor with sophistication and helping both our team and client teams adopt them effectively</li> </ul> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><em>Collaboration & Client Partnership</em></p> <ul class="[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Embed directly with client teams, earning trust quickly and translating their business problems into AI system designs that actually work in their environment</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Partner with product, engineering, and leadership — ours and the client's — to align technical direction with business outcomes</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Translate complex AI tradeoffs, risks, and opportunities into clear narratives for technical and non-technical stakeholders</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Lead design reviews and technical discussions, raising the bar for engineering rigor across both R&P and client teams</li> </ul> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><em>Leadership & Influence</em></p> <ul class="[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Define AI architecture and engineering standards for each engagement, bringing depth on tradeoffs, long-term implications, and responsible AI practices</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Drive client adoption of AI systems post-delivery — identifying gaps in understanding, building enablement materials, and upskilling client engineers where needed</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Mentor and grow junior and mid-level engineers, multiplying impact through coaching, code reviews, and pairing on hard problems</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Take ownership of the most ambiguous and highest-