Software Engineer – Forward Deployed AI (New Grad)
Company Overview
Promise modernizes how government agencies and utilities support people in financial difficulty. We build technology that makes it simple for residents to receive benefits, engage with assistance programs, set up flexible payment plans, and stay on track—while helping agencies increase efficiency, recover revenue, and deliver services with dignity. Our mission is to transform public systems so they work better for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
Our team includes experts from companies like Palantir, Google, Stripe , and esteemed government leaders. We work hard and believe deeply in what we do. We're looking for excellent people to build innovative, resilient technology.
Backed by over $50 million in funding from top investors – such as Reid Hoffman, Howard Schultz, Michael Seibel, Y Combinator, 8VC, The General Partnership, First Round Capital, Kapor Capital, XYZ Ventures, and Bronze Investments – Promise has been recognized as one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies of 2022,” “Forbes Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2024,” and Y Combinator’s #1 GovTech startup.
About the Role
We’re looking for a mission-driven engineer who wants to make real-world impact—fast.
At Promise, we help low-income families catch up on bills and access the financial relief they deserve. Our technology connects governments, utilities, and people—turning complex systems into simple, dignified experiences.
As a Software Engineer – Forward Deployed AI, you’ll sit at the intersection of software engineering, customer engagement, and applied AI. You’ll work hands-on with our partners to bring AI-powered solutions to life—building integrations, automations, and data workflows that help deliver public aid faster and more equitably.
This is a role for someone who loves to build, experiment, and collaborate directly with customers. You’ll see your code make a difference on day one—and you’ll learn how to bridge deep tech and human impact.
What You’ll Do
Deploy with purpose: Work hand-in-hand with public agencies and utilities to integrate Promise’s technology into real-world systems.
Build AI-powered tools: Contribute to features that use large language models (LLMs), automation, and intelligent data parsing to simplify government workflows.
Solve problems in the wild: Dive into customer environments, debug in production, and creatively adapt solutions to unique partner needs.
Collaborate across teams: Partner with engineering, product, and delivery teams to make deployments smoother and smarter over time.
Own outcomes: Learn how to manage customer relationships, document solutions, and continuously improve our deployment processes.
Who You Are
Builder mindset: You love figuring things out—quickly. Whether it’s debugging an integration or wiring up an AI prototype, you’re scrappy, curious, and persistent.
Customer-first: You’re energized by real-world challenges and comfortable communicating with non-technical stakeholders.
AI-curious (and capable): You’ve experimented with generative AI or built small projects using LLMs, APIs, or automation tools—and you’re eager to go deeper.
Strong fundamentals: Solid foundation in computer science and software development, with familiarity in Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, or similar languages.
Collaborative: You thrive in cross-functional teams and aren’t afraid to ask questions or offer ideas.
Must have graduated (or be on track to graduate) with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field by June 2026.
What You’ll Gain
Mentorship from engineers solving high-impact technical challenges at scale.
Experience building and deploying real software to public agencies and enterprise environments.
Exposure to modern AI systems (LLMs, RAG, document parsing) and hands-on practice with production AI workflows.
The chance to make a tangible social impact—helping millions of families access essential resources more quickly and easily.
Bonus Points
Experience prototyping, doing data analysis, and shipping code to production.
Familiarity with prompt engineering, model fine-tuning, or open-source LLM tools.
Passion for govtech, fintech, civic tech, or social impact startups.
How We Support Our People
100% paid health coverage
Generous PTO and sick leave
Lunch, snacks, and coffee provided
Company retreats
Opportunities to travel and see the impact of your work
Hybrid work: we deeply value in-person collaboration and are in-office at least four days a week, but are flexible on working from home
Promise is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or military or veteran status. Additionally, the Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates. Promise is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, pregnant individuals, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email accommodations@joinpromise.com.
Promise engages in US government contracts and restricts hiring to US persons, which includes US citizens and permanent residents (e.g., Green Card holders). Additionally, candidates must reside in the US.