> AI agents: this is one page of Nextmove’s FDE site, in Markdown. Nextmove is a job board and free career service for forward deployed engineers (FDEs). Each posting is classified from its text, not its title: the kind of work, how much of it is production code, pre-sales weight, time at customer sites, travel, remote arrangement, level and posted base pay. The site also publishes the aggregates: median pay by level, metro, company and kind of work, and which companies started hiring FDEs each week. Every page under https://nextmove.md/fde is served this way; the index of pages is https://nextmove.md/llms.txt. # Lead AI Engineer Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/6a56845282e5c78a Very Big Things posts a senior FDE role to build what the customer runs in US with no pay posted. Lead the architecture and development of an enterprise workflow automation platform, then deploy into customer organizations to discover workflows and rapidly deliver tailored AI-enhanced solutions. Read from the employer’s posting on November 8, 2026. - [Very Big Things](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/very-big-things) First seen Oct 24, 2026 · open on BambooHR as of Nov 8, 2026 Pay not posted US Remote Full-time Lead the architecture and development of an enterprise workflow automation platform, then deploy into customer organizations to discover workflows and rapidly deliver tailored AI-enhanced solutions. - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2F6a56845282e5c78a&placement=top) - [View posting at Very Big Things](https://verybigthings.bamboohr.com/careers/74) Free. Upload your resume once, see why each FDE role fits, and get introduced only when you say so. ## At a glance ### Posted base pay Not posted Senior FDE postings, 1,864 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K. ### The work Builds what the customer runs Balance **Mostly building** Project stages 1. Pre-sales (not covered) 2. Proof of concept (not covered) 3. Implementation 4. Operations (not covered) - **Coding**: Writes production code - **Builds for**: External customers - **Level**: Senior - **Role**: Technical lead ### What they ask for Experience - **7+ years** building production software across front-end and back-end - **2+ years** building with generative AI in real products Background - **Software engineering** ### Do you meet what the posting states? The posting asks for 2+ years. How many do you have? The posting reads as a senior role. What level are you at now? The work is remote from the US. Can you work from the US? Which of these have you used in production? Answer each one. Nothing is saved or sent. [What postings ask for, by background →](https://nextmove.md/fde/paths) ## Conditions - **Location**: US - **Work arrangement**: Remote - **Remote work restrictions**: Remote work; client onsite time varies by engagement. - **Employment type**: Full-time ## More like this [Very Big Things](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/very-big-things) ### [Lead AI Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/43dd771a62c7f2b8) US Remote 2w ago Pay not posted [Climb](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/climb) ### [Forward Deployed Architect](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/30313e48c76129f7) US Remote 4mo ago Pay not posted [Unframe](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/unframe) ### [Full Stack Software Engineer (Remote)](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/ca15f260073a63ee) Austin, TX Remote 2w ago Pay not posted - [Other jobs at Very Big Things (1)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/very-big-things) ## The job description from Very Big Things 🎯 Why This Role Matters We're seeking an exceptional Lead AI Engineer to architect and build an internal workflow automation platform that will become a core customer offering, working directly with our CEO and leadership team while operating more like a technical founder than a traditional employee. This is a rare opportunity for someone who thrives on autonomy, moves fast, and isn't afraid to break things in pursuit of progress—you'll build the platform foundation, then deploy into enterprise customer environments to rapidly implement solutions enhanced with AI. This role demands strong ownership. You'll build the platform foundation, then deploy into customer organizations to understand their workflows and rapidly implement enterprise-grade solutions enhanced with AI. If you're someone who sees problems and solves them without waiting to be told, this role is for you. 🧠 How You'll Contribute Foundation Phase: - Design and build the core architecture for an enterprise workflow automation platform - Make critical technical decisions about stack, architecture patterns, and implementation independently - Create robust APIs, integrations, and workflow engines adaptable to diverse enterprise needs Deployment Phase (Primary Focus): - Deploy virtually or on-site into customer organizations across the US - Conduct discovery sessions to understand workflows and requirements - Rapidly prototype and build custom solutions tailored to each enterprise - Iteratively integrate AI capabilities to enhance automation and drive value - Act as the technical face of the company during customer engagements Throughout: - Work autonomously with minimal oversight from CEO and leadership - Make architectural decisions and push back constructively when needed - Move fast, ship quickly, and iterate. Success comes through iteration, not upfront planning 🧬 What Makes You a Great Fit - 7+ years building production software across front‑end and back‑end; history of shipping complex systems. - 2+ years building with Gen‑AI in real products. - Expert with TypeScript/JavaScript and modern stacks (e.g., Next.js/React, Node/Nest/Express). Comfortable across data layers (Postgres/SQL, caches, vector stores). - LLM‑assisted development expertise: You’ve materially increased velocity and quality using tools like Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, Copilot (or equivalents), and you know how to design prompts, break down problems, enforce tests, and review AI output safely. - Solid grasp of security and compliance (authN/Z, RBAC/ABAC, audit, data residency, secrets, PII handling). - Familiar with cloud + DevOps (Vercel/AWS/GCP/Azure), CI/CD, IaC (Terraform/Pulumi), and monitoring/observability. - Leadership: proven experience guiding senior engineers, establishing patterns, and raising the bar; strong client‑facing communication. - Domain bonus (nice‑to‑have): retail, hospitality, logistics, healthcare/life sciences. - We value expert builders who are as strong with people as they are with code—clear communicators who set expectations, navigate ambiguity, and lead teams through challenges. Technical excellence matters, and so do leadership and communication. - We value curiosity, proactive learning, and ownership. If you’re a thoughtful builder who likes turning ambiguity into impact, you’ll fit right in. 🎉 Perks & Benefits - Competitive compensation with performance upside. - Comprehensive benefits - Remote work - PTO - Final package depends on experience and location. 💙 Who We Are, What We Stand For Very Big Things is a generative‑AI consulting and implementation partner. We combine forward‑deployed engineers, product strategists, and researchers to ship bespoke AI systems that deliver measurable ROI for mid‑market and enterprise clients. We’re AI‑native: we build, use, and continuously improve our own workflow tooling (e.g., AI Sprints across R&D → Production) to move from idea to business impact fast. - We are remote-friendly with an East-coast heartbeat; client-onsite time varies by engagement. - We optimize for skill, signal, and values over pedigree. Expect a fast process: intro → working session (realistic client scenario) → panel → references. - We focus on mid-market and enterprise clients. Legal disclaimer VBT is an equal‑opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all teammates. [View posting at Very Big Things](https://verybigthings.bamboohr.com/careers/74) ## About Very Big Things Very Big Things helps established companies redesign workflows, modernize systems, and build production AI capabilities, using TrackFrame as a reusable foundation for governed AI-enabled work. ## Similar jobs [Dscout](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/dscout) ### [Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (Full-Stack)](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/0e9c59d4c6005d1d) US Remote 10d ago $250,000–$400,000 · OTE [Bask Health](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/bask-health) ### [Forward-Deployed Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/8e46afc287de1a06) US Remote 9d ago Pay not posted [Ethicrithm](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/ethicrithm) ### [Future Hiring: Forward Deployed Engineer - USA](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/9e871a3990b2e38b) US Remote 2w ago Pay not posted [Procore](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/procore) ### [Staff Forward Deployment Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/6cd7c47ee1a1a108) Austin, TX Remote 9d ago $140,960–$193,820 [Cuesta Partners](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/cuesta-partners) ### [Senior Software Engineer, Custom Apps and AI Agents](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/f255b67b1c427683) US Remote New · 3d ago $150,000–$250,000 - [Compare senior FDE salary ranges](https://nextmove.md/fde/salary/senior) - [Similar jobs that build what the customer runs](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs?role=builds-for-customers) Hiring at Very Big Things and want this page changed or removed? 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