Forward Deployed CTO
AI summary of the role
The Forward Deployed CTO at Tribe AI is a field executive who owns technical transformation for 1-2 enterprise clients, setting technical direction and leading cross-functional teams.
What you’ll do
- Own technical delivery for 1-2 enterprise accounts, setting direction and managing risk.
- Act as senior technical partner to C-suite stakeholders, translating business problems into architectural decisions.
- Build reusable Tribe IP: architecture patterns, evaluation frameworks, deployment playbooks.
- Hire, develop, and retain FD Engineers, Architects, and PMs across accounts.
What you’ll bring
- 12+ years of engineering experience with deep expertise in AI/ML and production systems.
- Founded a company or built a 0-to-1 product as a technical lead.
- Strong command of modern AI stack: LLMs, agentic frameworks, RAG, vector infrastructure, cloud deployment, evaluation pipelines.
- Background in client-facing or consulting engineering with real delivery accountability.
Technologies
AI/ML · LLMs · agentic frameworks · RAG · vector infrastructure · cloud deployment · evaluation pipelines · production systems
Source and classification
Deployment team leadership · Evidence for this classification:
setting technical direction, leading cross-functional teams, and holding the bar on what ships. In parallel, you'll translate what you learn in the field into reusable Tribe IP: architecture patterns, evaluation frameworks, deployment playbooks. That internal work is as central to the role as the client work. This is the role for a technical founder-operator who wants to drive transformation at scale without taking all the startup risk. Key Responsibilities Client Transformation Own technical delivery across a focused portfolio of 1–2 enterprise accounts — setting direction, managing risk, and holding the standard on outcomes. Act as the senior technical partner for C-suite stakeholders: translate business problems into architectural decisions and make those decisions defensible. Guide clients through the hardest AI transformation decisions — when to automate, when to augment, how
More from the job description
About Tribe AI Tribe embeds senior AI engineers and technical leaders directly into enterprise clients to drive AI transformation that actually ships. We're not a traditional consulting firm — we're operators who build alongside clients, own outcomes, and leave behind systems and capabilities that endure. About the Role The Forward Deployed CTO is a field executive who owns the technical transformation of a focused portfolio of enterprise clients — and uses that work to build something lasting for Tribe. This isn't a delivery management role. You're not running status meetings or coordinating handoffs. You're the person a Fortune 500 CTO calls when they need to make a consequential decision about AI, and you're also the person building the methodology that makes Tribe's delivery consistently excellent across every account. You'll own 1–2 high-stakes client engagements deeply — setting technical direction, leading cross-functional teams, and holding the bar on what ships. In parallel, you'll translate what you learn in the field into reusable Tribe IP: architecture patterns, evaluation frameworks, deployment playbooks. That internal work is as central to the role as the client work. This is the role for a technical founder-operator who wants to drive transformation at scale without taking all the startup risk. Key Responsibilities Client Transformation Own technical del [... source excerpt omitted ...] rd on outcomes. Act as the senior technical partner for C-suite stakeholders: translate business problems into architectural decisions and make those decisions defensible. Guide clients through the hardest AI transformation decisions — when to automate, when to augment, how to govern, and how to scale what's working. Be the person clients call when something is critical or when they need a strategic perspective, not just a project update. Practice Building Build reusable Tribe IP from your client work: architecture patterns, evaluation frameworks, deployment playbooks, and tooling that raises the floor for every FDE team. Develop Tribe's point of view in your domain — whe [... source excerpt omitted ...] that's healthcare, financial services, supply chain, or another vertical you know deeply. Spot what's generalizable before anyone else does. The best FD-CTOs don't just solve one client's problem — they solve it in a way that makes the next engagement faster and sharper. Team Leadership Hire, develop, and retain FD Engineers, Architects, and PMs across your accounts. Create conditions for your teams to do their best work — clear scope, the right tools, and air cover to move fast. Run 1:1s and performance conversations that actually accelerate people's growth, not just check the box. About You 12+ years of engineering experience with deep expertise in AI/ML and production
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