Forward Deployed Engineer Lead (AI)

TL;DR

Forward Deployed Engineer Lead (AI/AWS): Driving application modernization efforts and managing a team of Forward Deployed Engineers with an accent on AI-assisted SDLC practices and cloud-native AWS architectures. Focus on establishing best practices, solving complex integration challenges, and fostering lasting upskilling within delivery teams.

Location: This is a high-impact, hybrid role requiring advanced software engineering skills, deep knowledge of cloud-native patterns, and proven expertise in consultation, change management, and building strong rapport with diverse teams. Must be based in Canada.

Company

hirify.global acquires, builds, and grows successful enterprise software businesses globally, focusing on long-term ownership and market dominance.

What you will do

• Embed with application teams to provide hands-on technical leadership, driving modernization to AWS cloud-native architectures.
• Direct and manage a team of Forward Deployed Engineers, including performance management, career development, and establishing operational excellence.
• Act as the subject matter expert on AI Modernization Factory tools, driving adoption of AI-assisted software development practices.
• Build trust and rapport with diverse teams, identifying and implementing solutions for technical and process bottlenecks.
• Make significant code contributions, focusing on architectural scaffolding, CI/CD pipelines, and IaC (Terraform).
• Serve as the primary feedback channel to improve the central factory's capabilities.
• Ensure embedded teams adhere to engineering standards, including Twelve-Factor App principles and DevSecOps practices.

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Software Engineering, with a focus on enterprise applications and modernization.
• Strong hands-on full-stack proficiency (front-end, back-end, database, infrastructure) in Python, TypeScript, C#, or Java.
• Deep practical experience building and deploying scalable applications on AWS, with strong proficiency in Terraform.
• Proven ability to onboard rapidly, assess technical landscapes, influence direction without formal authority, and drive organizational change.
• Hands-on mastery of setting up and optimizing CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI) and integrating DevSecOps best practices.
• Proven experience in a formal leadership role, including hiring, mentorship, and developing high-performing engineering teams.

Nice to have

• Prior experience in a consulting, Staff Engineer, or Forward Deployed role.
• Direct experience training or mentoring engineers in new technologies or methodologies.
• Hands-on experience with modern UI frameworks like React or NextJS.
• Experience utilizing AI-assisted coding tools (Cursor, Claude Code).
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker/Kubernetes) and serverless architectures (AWS Lambda).

Culture & Benefits

• Committed to equal employment opportunities, supporting an inclusive workplace where associates excel based on merit.