Forward Deployed Engineer
Engineering · Indonesia · Hybrid / Project-Based · Talent Pool
Forward Deployed Engineers work at the boundary between IonFirst and the client's real operational environment. They investigate problems, understand constraints, design solutions, and help carry those solutions through implementation.
FDE at IonFirst is multidisciplinary. Candidates do not need to come exclusively from software engineering or computer science.
Relevant backgrounds may include:
- Software Engineering
- Computer Science
- Data / AI
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Instrumentation
- Statistics
- Operations Research
- Other technical disciplines
What you'll do
- Work directly with clients and internal teams to understand operational problems.
- Translate ambiguous business problems into structured engineering problems.
- Map workflows, systems, constraints, data, and dependencies.
- Design practical technical solutions.
- Build prototypes, models, systems, integrations, devices, or analytical workflows depending on the project.
- Collaborate with specialists from other engineering disciplines.
- Participate in implementation and deployment.
- Evaluate whether the deployed solution produces measurable operational impact.
- Document technical decisions and communicate them clearly to stakeholders.
What we're looking for
- Strong problem decomposition and systems thinking.
- Evidence of having built or contributed to projects solving real problems.
- Ability to learn unfamiliar domains quickly.
- Technical competence in at least one engineering or quantitative discipline.
- Ability to communicate reasoning clearly.
- Comfort working with uncertainty.
- Ownership mentality.
- Willingness to interact directly with clients when required.
We do not require a specific university major.
Projects can come from software, AI, data, mechanical systems, chemical processes, electronics, industrial systems, research, automation, or other engineering disciplines.
What matters is the candidate's ability to demonstrate how they identified a problem, reasoned about it, and contributed to solving it.
Nice to have
- Experience working on multidisciplinary projects.
- Previous client-facing experience.
- Experience deploying something beyond a classroom environment.
- Experience working with business or operational stakeholders.
- Strong technical documentation.
- Portfolio, GitHub, research, prototype, case study, or engineering project demonstrating problem-solving ability.
How to apply
These openings currently operate as a talent pool. Candidates who fit IonFirst's upcoming project requirements may be contacted as relevant opportunities become available.
Apply via Email→Send to ionfirsttechnology@gmail.com
Email subject
[Application] – [Role] – [Full Name]
e.g. [Application] – Forward Deployed Engineer – John Doe
Attachments
- Required: CV_[FullName].pdf (e.g. CV_JohnDoe.pdf)
- Optional: Portfolio_[FullName].pdf or links to relevant work
We encourage you to include links or attachments showing engineering projects, prototypes, research, systems, GitHub repositories, technical reports, or other evidence of problem solving.
Email body
- Full name
- University / current organization, if applicable
- Current location
- Role being applied for
- Short introduction
- Why you are interested in IonFirst
- One project, campaign, or experience you are particularly proud of
- LinkedIn / portfolio / GitHub, where relevant
Recruitment process
- 01Application
- 02Initial Review
- 03Conversation
- 04Case / Technical Discussion
- 05Talent Pool / Project Matching
Applications are reviewed based on role fit and demonstrated problem-solving ability. Selected candidates may be invited to an initial conversation followed by a role-relevant discussion or case. Candidates entering the talent pool may then be contacted when a suitable IonFirst project or internal requirement becomes available.