Forward Deployed AI Engineer (Multiple Levels)

REF61812C

NIQ is the world's leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and helping the world's largest brands and retailers make smarter business decisions. 

We're now building something new. 

As part of NIQ's rapidly growing AI organization, our Forward Deployed Engineering team partners directly with clients to design, build, and deploy AI-powered solutions that solve real business challenges. This is an opportunity to join a founding team operating with the speed, ownership, and entrepreneurial spirit of a startup, backed by the scale, data, and client relationships of a global industry leader. 

This is a remote position with up to 30% travel required. While candidates may be based anywhere in the U.S., we have a preference for those located in the Chicago or New York metropolitan areas due to proximity to our office locations and opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Do you enjoy solving complex problems, building production software, and working directly with clients? 

We're looking for Forward Deployed AI Engineers to join our growing team.  

This is not a traditional engineering role.  

You'll combine deep technical expertise with customer engagement, serving as both a builder and trusted advisor as you help organizations transform business challenges into AI-powered solutions. 

Working side-by-side with client stakeholders, engineers, data scientists, and business leaders, you'll take solutions from concept to production and see firsthand how your work creates impact. One week may involve collaborating onsite with a client to understand a business challenge; the next may involve building applications, deploying AI workflows, or launching production systems that support critical decisions. This role includes approximately 30% travel, providing opportunities to work directly with clients, build relationships, and see firsthand how your solutions drive business impact. 

What You'll Do 

• Partner directly with clients to understand complex business challenges and identify opportunities where AI can create measurable impact. 
• Design, build, and deploy production-grade applications using AI, machine learning, cloud technologies, APIs, and modern software engineering practices. 
• Develop solutions utilizing large language models (LLMs), retrieval systems, agents, workflow automation, and advanced analytics. 
• Lead projects through the full lifecycle, from discovery and prototyping to deployment, adoption, and ongoing optimization. 
• Collaborate with client teams, product leaders, engineers, and data scientists to deliver scalable and impactful solutions. 
• Translate ambiguous problems into actionable plans and deliver results in fast-moving environments. 
• Measure solution performance, reliability, and user adoption, continuously improving the systems you build. 
• Contribute to the evolution of NIQ's AI capabilities by sharing learnings, creating reusable frameworks, and influencing future product direction. 
• Travel to client locations as needed to support discovery, implementation, and strategic engagements. 

Why You'll Love This Role 

• Build AI solutions that are deployed in production and used by real customers. 
• Work directly with some of the world's largest retailers and consumer brands. 
• Tackle complex business challenges where no predefined solution exists. 
• Join a founding team helping define the future of AI at NIQ. 
• Operate with the autonomy and ownership of a startup environment while benefiting from the scale and resources of a global leader. 
• Influence not only the solutions you build, but also the products, processes, and capabilities that shape the future of the business. 
• Work at the intersection of AI, software engineering, and customer engagement, seeing firsthand how your solutions affect real business decisions. 

We're hiring across multiple levels and welcome candidates with a range of experience. Responsibilities and scope will align to your background, with opportunities for more experienced candidates to lead complex deployments, influence technical strategy, mentor team members, and help shape the future of the Forward Deployed Engineering organization. 

What We're Looking For 

• 3+ years of experience in software engineering, AI engineering, solutions engineering, deployment engineering, technical consulting, or a related field. Candidates with additional experience may be considered for senior or lead-level opportunities. 
• Proven ability to build and deliver production systems from requirements gathering through implementation and adoption. 
• Strong software engineering skills with experience building production systems in Python, Java, Go, TypeScript, or similar languages, along with experience working with APIs, SQL, cloud platforms, data pipelines, and modern application architectures. 
• Experience building or deploying AI, machine learning, generative AI, or LLM-based applications in production environments. 
• Ability to translate ambiguous problems into practical, scalable technical solutions. 
• Strong systems thinking and an understanding of reliability, security, performance, and maintainability considerations. 
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with technical teams, business stakeholders, and clients. 
• Experience collaborating directly with customers, gathering requirements, and building trusted relationships. 
• Ability to lead technical discussions, influence decisions, and drive projects forward in fast-paced environments. 
• Comfortable working in highly collaborative, entrepreneurial environments with a strong sense of ownership. 
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 30% to client locations for discovery, workshops, implementation support, and strategic collaboration. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience working in a Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Engineer, Technical Consultant, Customer Engineer, or similar client-facing engineering role. 
• Experience building and deploying applications in cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. 
• Experience working in fast-growing technology companies, startup environments, or highly entrepreneurial teams. 
• Experience supporting enterprise clients and leading complex technical engagements. 
• Familiarity with retail, consumer packaged goods (CPG), analytics, or data-driven decision-making environments.

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation of the following range: $110,000 - $240,000.  Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. This role might also be eligible for a sales-based incentive or performance-based bonus. Other benefits include flexible working environment, comprehensive health insurance, industry-leading parental leave, life insurance, education support and more.

US Benefits 

• Comprehensive healthcare plan (medical, Rx, dental, and vision). 
• Flexible spending accounts and a Health Savings Account (including company contributions). 
• Life and AD&D insurance. 
• 401(k) retirement plan including company matching contributions. 
• Disability insurance. 
• Tuition Reimbursement. 
• Discretionary paid time off program and 11 paid holidays. 
• Flexible working environment 
• Volunteer time off 
• LinkedIn Learning 
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP) 

Our Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

NIQ may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the recruitment process, including résumé screening, candidate assessments, interview scheduling, job matching, communication support, and certain administrative tasks that help streamline workflows. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and support fair and consistent evaluation based on job-related criteria. All use of AI is governed by NIQ’s principles of fairness, transparency, human oversight, and inclusion. Final hiring decisions are made exclusively by humans. NIQ regularly reviews its AI tools to help mitigate bias and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions, require accommodations, or wish to request human review were permitted by law, please contact your local HR representative. For more information, please visit NIQ’s AI Safety Policies and Guiding Principles: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/info/niqs-ai-safety-policies/

About NIQ

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

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Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence.  All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion