Forward Deployed Engineer
About Summation
Summation is building the future of business planning and analytics by bridging the gap between data and decision-making. We empower organizations to transform complex data into clear, actionable insights that drive business outcomes. Our AI-native platform integrates advanced data models with intuitive workflows, making financial performance management simple, collaborative, and effective.
The Role
At Summation, we are building the next generation of decision grade AI platforms. As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you are the technical owner of our client deployments, directly responsible for translating complex enterprise needs into high-value, production-ready systems. This role is highly empowering: we give you the autonomy to drive the client journey to completion and expect you to exhibit the enterprise and resourcefulness required to unblock any technical or organizational challenge. Your success is measured by the successful adoption and measurable impact of our platform on the client's business.
Key Responsibilities
The FDE role is an intersection of deep engineering, solution architecture, and client leadership. You will be fully accountable for the success of high-leverage client deployments from discovery through stable production.
Own End-to-End Technical Delivery: Lead and execute all phases of deployment, from initial scoping and technical design to integration, testing, and go-live.
Architect and Build Data Infrastructure: Design, implement, and maintain scalable data ingestion pipelines that seamlessly integrate and normalize large volumes of client financial data into the Summation platform. Core focus areas include: Designing optimized data models (SQL) and ensuring data quality meets production standards.
Drive Clarity and Unblock Deployments: Proactively identify, prioritize, and remove technical and organizational blockers. You don't wait for others to lead; you step in to write code, manage stakeholders, and find a way to get the job done.
Act as Technical Translator: Employ exceptional technical empathy to rapidly process and synthesize complex business requirements from clients (often related to accounting/finance) and translate them directly into clear platform features and engineering priorities.
Develop Bespoke Solutions: Design and deploy custom software agents to achieve critical, bespoke outcomes for customers, contributing directly to product innovation through your field experience.
Minimum Qualifications
We are looking for self-starters with a demonstrated history of technical leadership and delivery.
Experience: Minimum 5+ years of demonstrated success in a demanding role within software engineering, data engineering, solutions architecture, or technical consulting.
Engineering Depth: Proven ability to write and review production-grade code (preferably in Python, Java, or comparable stacks) and a demonstrated ability to jump into the codebase to resolve complex issues or accelerate development.
Data Acumen: Deep familiarity with data concepts, including practical experience designing and optimizing relational schemas and writing complex, performant SQL.
Pipeline Experience: Solid understanding and hands-on experience related to data pipelines, analytics, or Business Intelligence (BI) systems.
Communication & Ownership: Must possess a proven track record of successfully managing complex projects and leading technical discussions with external business and technical stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
These attributes indicate a candidate who is ready to accelerate their impact in the FDE role.
Domain Curiosity: A strong capacity and willingness to rapidly master general accounting terms and financial practices. Prior professional experience in FinTech, accounting, or finance is a significant advantage.
Enterprise Integration Experience: Familiarity with integrating data from major ERP, financial planning, or ledger systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Anaplan.
Client Project Acumen: Prior experience in a client-facing technical role (e.g., Solutions Engineer, Technical Consultant) where you were responsible for defining the technical scope, driving the project plan, and managing delivery expectations with external stakeholders. This shows you can own the execution without necessarily managing a team.
Ecosystem Knowledge: Experience working with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and familiarity with modern deployment practices.
What We Offer
Competitive salary and equity options
Flexible (Unlimited) Paid Time Off
Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits for you and your family
401(k) Plan
Parental Leave
A collaborative environment where your voice matters
Opportunities for growth and career development
The chance to work on cutting-edge technology that is transforming how businesses plan and execute