Forward Deployed Engineer Jobs in California
Forward Deployed Engineer jobs in California are concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Palantir, Scale AI, and Anduril Industries maintain significant engineering operations and hire at every level from early-career to staff. California's market is among the most active in the country for this role, with particularly strong demand in defense tech, AI infrastructure deployment, and enterprise software implementation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 231+ Forward Deployed Engineer jobs
Our mission is to automate knowledge work.
Sim is a platform to build autonomous AI agents for enterprise systems. Teams connect their integrations and Sim builds a knowledge graph of company data and processes; from there, they work with Sim to build and monitor the AI agents and workflows that run production systems.
Sim is talent-dense. We're looking for special people who are mission-driven, passionate, and creative.
We're a team of 10 working full-time, in person in San Francisco. We have a flat organization: you'll work directly with the founders and own your work from idea to execution. We sponsor visas.
About the Role
You'll work directly with customers to turn their workflows into agents that run in production. You'll own deployments end to end: developing a deep understanding of their problems, building integrations, shipping agents and evals, and engineering systems for continuous improvement. Your experience on the front lines will shape Sim's product direction: identifying recurring challenges, translating production feedback into platform capabilities, and informing what we build next.
You may be a fit if
You can build useful software, work through unfamiliar systems, and explain technical decisions clearly.
You enjoy working with customers and taking a project from the first conversation to production.
New graduates are welcome. We care about what you can do; projects, internships, and independent work count.
Compensation
$190K–$250K base plus a 0.25%–0.4% equity grant.
Applying
If there appears to be a fit, we'll reach out to schedule 1-2 short technicals. After, we'll schedule an onsite in our office, where you'll work on a small project, discuss ideas, and meet the team.
Equal Opportunity
Sim is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Compensation Range: $190K - $250K
Our mission is to automate knowledge work.
Sim is a platform to build autonomous AI agents for enterprise systems. Teams connect their integrations and Sim builds a knowledge graph of company data and processes; from there, they work with Sim to build and monitor the AI agents and workflows that run production systems.
Sim is talent-dense. We're looking for special people who are mission-driven, passionate, and creative.
We're a team of 10 working full-time, in person in San Francisco. We have a flat organization: you'll work directly with the founders and own your work from idea to execution. We sponsor visas.
About the Role
You'll work directly with customers to turn their workflows into agents that run in production. You'll own deployments end to end: developing a deep understanding of their problems, building integrations, shipping agents and evals, and engineering systems for continuous improvement. Your experience on the front lines will shape Sim's product direction: identifying recurring challenges, translating production feedback into platform capabilities, and informing what we build next.
You may be a fit if
You can build useful software, work through unfamiliar systems, and explain technical decisions clearly.
You enjoy working with customers and taking a project from the first conversation to production.
New graduates are welcome. We care about what you can do; projects, internships, and independent work count.
Compensation
$190K–$250K base plus a 0.25%–0.4% equity grant.
Applying
If there appears to be a fit, we'll reach out to schedule 1-2 short technicals. After, we'll schedule an onsite in our office, where you'll work on a small project, discuss ideas, and meet the team.
Equal Opportunity
Sim is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Compensation Range: $190K - $250K
See All 231+ Forward Deployed Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsForward Deployed Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Forward Deployed Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software57
- Artificial Intelligence6
- Consulting & Professional Services5
- Staffing & Recruiting4
- Investment & Asset Management3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in forward deployed engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Hands-on experience deploying or integrating software in customer production environments
- Proficiency in at least one scripting or programming language such as Python, SQL, or Java
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance for defense or government contracts
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for working directly with enterprise clients
- Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure in a deployment context
Forward Deployed Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a forward deployed engineer in California?
The most direct path is a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical discipline from a California university or equivalent institution, followed by experience in technical implementation, solutions engineering, or software deployment. California does not require a state-issued license for this role. Employers typically look for candidates who can demonstrate hands-on deployment work through internships, project portfolios, or prior roles in technical support or solutions architecture.
Which companies hire forward deployed engineers in California?
Employers hiring forward deployed engineers in California right now include Databricks, Snorkel AI, and Google, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of defense technology firms, AI companies, and large enterprise software organizations makes it one of the most active states for this role.
Which California cities have the most forward deployed engineer jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose account for the most forward deployed engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its dense concentration of AI, defense tech, and enterprise software companies, while Los Angeles reflects the growth of aerospace and defense-adjacent firms, and San Diego draws demand from its large defense contracting and cybersecurity sector.
Are there remote forward deployed engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely analytical or software development roles, since forward deployed engineers are often required to work on-site at customer facilities to deploy and support technical systems. About 48% of forward deployed engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with remote work most feasible during integration planning, documentation, or follow-on support phases rather than initial deployment.
How can I get hired as a forward deployed engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is a technical support, solutions engineering associate, or implementation specialist role at a California-based software or defense tech company. Firms like Palantir and Anduril have run new-graduate and associate programs that develop candidates into forward deployed roles. Building a portfolio of deployment or integration projects through internships or open-source contributions, combined with cloud certifications from providers like AWS or Google Cloud, gives candidates a meaningful edge with California employers hiring at the entry level.
Where can I find and apply to forward deployed engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to forward deployed engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, and beyond. Find a role that fits and apply directly to the employer.
See All 231+ Forward Deployed Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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