Lead Forward Deployed Engineer US - Miami

Lead Forward Deployed Engineer

Pelico is building its Forward Deployed Engineers Team — hands-on builders who thrive at the intersection of data engineering, AI-driven automation, and customer problem-solving. You will turn AI capabilities into measurable operational outcomes, and make those outcomes repeatable.

You sit at the intersection of Engineering, Product, and Customer Operations, ensuring technology translates into structured, scalable value for customers.

As Lead Forward Deployed Engineer, you will work directly with Pelico's leadership and with senior executives at our largest enterprise customers. You will design and deliver mission-critical AI systems that sit at the core of aerospace and advanced manufacturing operations.

This role lives at the intersection of:

• Data Engineering
• AI-driven automation
• Enterprise system architecture
• Strategic customer engagement

You will stand up modern data stacks, architect production-grade pipelines, and deploy AI-powered agents that fundamentally reshape how operations teams work.

This is a high-ownership technical leadership role. You will design and ship production systems, architect scalable data pipelines, engage directly with enterprise customers, and influence go-to-market strategy.

From your first weeks, you will be in front of customers, shipping production-grade code, and contributing to strategic, high-impact deployments.

• Lead complex enterprise deployments from scoping to production
• Build and ship production-grade AI and data systems (Java, Python, SQL, cloud)
• Integrate with ERP, MES, PLM, and broader industrial ecosystems
• Translate operational ambiguity into structured execution
• Formalize best practices and scale the Forward Deployed function

Our delivery approach is designed to convert field impact into scalable systems.

Validate feasibility, assess data quality, map workflows, and turn ambiguity into a clear execution plan.

Develop production-grade systems and iterate directly with end users.

Standardize what works through monitoring, testing, documentation, and reusable templates.

Equip Customer Operations with runbooks, dashboards, ownership clarity, and SLOs.

The goal: build once, scale repeatedly.

• 5+ years in Data, Software, ML, or Forward Deployed roles, ideally customer-facing
• Strong end-to-end data skills: ingestion to production (Python, SQL, Snowflake/DBT/Airflow, AWS)
• Comfortable with complex enterprise data (ERP, supply chain, manufacturing)
• Solution Framing end-to-end from a customer need / issue
• Clear communicator with strong business acumen
• Autonomous, scrappy, and effective in fast-moving startup environments
• Hands-on with AI, LLMs, and automation to accelerate execution
• Systems thinker with strong ownership and execution mindset
• Proven experience scaling initiatives and leading high-performing teams

Join an exciting adventure with a lot of challenges at all levels!

• Work on a highly impactful AI-native product that transforms how the world's leading manufacturers plan and optimize operations
• Miami office location with modern workspace and collaborative environment
• Competitive compensation including base salary, performance bonus, and equity (Stock Options for every Pelican)
• Comprehensive benefits package:
• Premium health, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous PTO policy + company holidays
• Professional development: budget for conferences, courses, and learning
• Flexible work arrangements with remote flexibility
• Work directly with world-class aerospace and manufacturing customers
• Collaborative, impact-driven culture with quarterly team events