Forward Deployed Engineer - Supply Chain Solutions

At Flexport, we're building the unified Supply Chain Operating System for global trade. As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll embed with enterprise clients to solve high-stakes supply chain challenges. You'll connect fragmented data, architect solutions, and build AI systems that optimize cargo movement.

Responsibilities:

• Embed & Map: Travel to client sites to map supply chain processes, audit legacy systems, and translate operational constraints into technical architectures.
• Design and build production solutions spanning customer applications, internal tools, APIs, data pipelines, and workflow automations.
• Build & Deploy Applied AI Solutions: Design and ship production-grade AI applications and decision engines.
• Solve Complex Mathematical Optimization: Apply optimization algorithms to logistics challenges such as routing, mode selection, and inventory positioning.
• Own the 90-Day Sprint Lifecycle: Drive high-velocity deployment sprints, taking solutions from discovery to live production deployment.
• Productize the Field: Partner with core Product and Platform Engineering teams to turn custom client builds into reusable platform capabilities.
• Bridge Engineering & Operations: Work with frontline logistics teams to validate code in live operational workflows.
• Drive Executive Decisions: Communicate technical trade-offs, system architecture, and financial outcomes to client technical leaders and C-suite executives.

Requirements:

• Educational Background: BA/BS degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Operations Research, or a related technical field.
• Full-Stack Production Engineering: 4+ years of professional software engineering experience building customer-facing or mission-critical applications.
• Hands-on AI & Systems Experience: Demonstrated ability to build and integrate AI/ML solutions.
• Data & System Architecture Mastery: Strong skills in designing data models, pipeline transformations, and API integrations.
• Customer-Facing Drive: Passion for going on-site, whiteboarding complex workflows with executive stakeholders, and building deep trust with technical and business teams.
• Systems Thinking & Problem Solving: Ability to reason through messy real-world data and imperfect operational dependencies.
• Bias for Action & Ownership: High autonomy, self-starter mentality, and a track record of delivering end-to-end projects with measurable financial or operational impact.
• Mobility: Willingness to travel to customer headquarters and logistics sites as needed.

Bonus Points:

• Domain knowledge in global supply chain, ocean/air freight, customs compliance, warehousing, inventory management, or trade financing.
• Background in Operations Research or enterprise implementation.
• Prior experience as a Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Architect, Technical Consultant, or Founding Engineer in a fast-paced environment.