Forward Deployed AI Engineer

About the Role

As a Forward Deployed AI Engineer, you will be the hands-on AI builder for defense and intelligence customers, deploying ICEYE’s intelligence platform into secure (often air-gapped) environments and rapidly shipping AI-powered workflows. This role involves everything from Docker-based deployments to RAG systems fusing SAR imagery with intelligence reports, turning raw satellite data into mission-critical tools for analysts.

Responsibilities

Platform Deployment & Integration

• Deploy ICEYE's intelligence platform into customer secure environments (on-premise, air-gapped networks, classified data centers).
• Build and maintain containerized applications (Docker) and manage deployments in customer Kubernetes clusters.
• Develop APIs and data pipelines connecting ICEYE systems to customer C4ISR infrastructure and intelligence tools.
• Troubleshoot deployment issues in disconnected environments without external internet access.

AI Solution Development & Customization

• Build Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems that combine ICEYE SAR data with customer intelligence documents for context-aware analysis.
• Develop AI agents and workflows using frameworks like LangChain, LangGraph, or similar tools to automate analytical tasks.
• Implement prompt engineering strategies and conversational AI interfaces that enable analysts to query satellite data using natural language.
• Create Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations connecting AI systems with customer data sources.

Data Fusion & Intelligence Workflows

• Build data fusion pipelines combining SAR imagery with additional intelligence sources (AIS, RF signals, optical imagery, SIGINT).
• Develop automated workflows that correlate and cross-reference information across different data modalities.
• Create lightweight tools, dashboards, and alerting systems tailored to customer operational needs.

Customer Engagement & Rapid Prototyping

• Work embedded with intelligence analysts, data scientists, and military operators to understand mission-critical problems.
• Rapidly prototype AI-powered solutions (code first, polish later) that address immediate operational requirements.
• Conduct hands-on training sessions on platform capabilities and AI workflow usage.
• Gather customer feedback and translate it into technical requirements for ICEYE's product and engineering teams.

Requirements

Must-Have Skills

• 3+ years hands-on software engineering building and deploying production systems.
• Strong Python programming skills (required) plus one of: Go, TypeScript, or Rust.
• Hands-on experience with LLMs, prompt engineering, and RAG systems.
• Working knowledge of agent frameworks (LangChain, LangGraph, pydantic-ai) and vector databases.
• Experience with Docker and deploying in secure / isolated / air-gapped environments.
• Practical experience with APIs, data pipelines, and integrating systems in production.
• Familiarity with Linux and basic Kubernetes operations.
• Builder mindset: ship fast, iterate with feedback, and prioritize working solutions over perfect architecture.
• Strong communication + customer engagement, able to work embedded with intelligence analysts / military operators.
• Strong spoken and written English, able to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel 40–60% to customer sites within the region.

Nice-To-Have Skills

• Experience in defense, intelligence, or government operational environments.
• Deploying to on-prem data centers and/or air-gapped networks.
• Familiarity with geospatial data, satellite imagery, or remote sensing.
• Experience with MCP integrations, multi-agent systems, or agentic workflows.
• Deeper Kubernetes, IaC (Terraform/Ansible), and/or offline CI/CD.
• Understanding of intelligence analysis workflows and defense/government requirements.
• Experience with data fusion, multi-source intelligence integration, or GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS).
• Background in solution engineering, technical consulting, or customer success.
• Experience in defense tech (e.g., Palantir, Anduril, Scale AI, similar startups).