Forward Deployed AI Operating Principal

Embed directly with portfolio company teams to bridge the gap between AI platforms and real business workflows — delivering measurable automation outcomes on fast cycle times.

// WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS

Most operating teams advise from a distance. This role is different. Inspired by the forward deployed engineer model — where builders embed directly in the customer's environment to deliver production outcomes in days, not quarters — this Operating Principal will sit side-by-side with portfolio company operators, hands on keyboard, bridging AI/automation platforms to their specific use cases. You will own the full cycle: discover the problem → architect the solution → build the workflow → prove ROI.

Think startup energy meets PE operating discipline. If you've spent your career translating complex platforms into customer-specific value at speed, this is the role.

You will operate as a hands-on solution architect and embedded execution leader across Sumeru's B2B enterprise technology portfolio — part “forward deployed engineer”, part transformation principal. Your work product isn't a slide deck; it's running automation in production.

01 — EMBED & DISCOVER
Forward Deploy Into Portfolio Companies
Embed directly with portco CEOs, COOs, CRO's, CMO's, and operational teams on-site. Run rapid discovery sprints — time-in-motion studies, ticket and call analysis, process mining, data quality assessments — to baseline current workflows and surface the highest-value automation targets within your first weeks. Approach each engagement the way an FDSE approaches a customer: you don't just advise, you build.

02 — ARCHITECT & BUILD
Bridge Platforms to Use Cases at Speed
Design and hands-on implement AI/automation workflows that connect the right tools (Claude Code/Cowork, n8n, UiPath, xClaw, custom LLM pipelines) to specific business processes — Tier 1 support deflection, order-to-cash automation, customer onboarding copilots, document intelligence for contracts and invoices. Own the full stack from data integration to deployed workflow. Target: working pilot within 4–8 weeks per engagement, not 6-month roadmaps.

03 — PILOT, MEASURE & SCALE
Prove Value Then Industrialize
Run structured A/B pilots with hard KPIs. Move material volumes of work from human to machine — push automation coverage from 60% of target transaction volumes without degrading CX. Once a use case proves out, package it for scale across regions, product lines, and additional portcos. Build the playbook as you go: patterns, reference architectures, code, and KPI frameworks that compound across the portfolio.

04 — PORTFOLIO AI ROADMAP
Maintain the Automation Backlog Across Companies
Own a portfolio-wide AI/automation roadmap. Rank initiatives by savings, revenue lift, payback period, and implementation complexity. Collaborate with other operating team members to maintain a shared catalog of proven use cases (support automation, knowledge management + LLM search, professional services copilots, finance ops) — so what works at one company can be rapidly deployed at the next.

05 — DEAL DILIGENCE
Pre-Deal Automation & AI Readiness Assessment
Partner with deal teams on operational diligence. Quantify the AI/automation value creation case — e.g., “$3–5M annual EBITDA uplift via 40% automation of Tier 1 support within 18 months” — with defensible assumptions. Identify critical leadership or org changes needed post-close to execute.

06 — TOOLING & VENDOR STRATEGY
Define Reference Architectures & Build the Vendor Ecosystem
Establish standard reference architectures for the portfolio's automation stack. Build and manage a preferred vendor ecosystem (implementation partners, AI platform providers, consultants) and negotiate portfolio-wide commercial terms. Stay current on the evolving tool landscape so you're always deploying the sharpest available solution.

07 — CAPABILITY BUILDING & CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Leave Teams Stronger Than You Found Them
Design org and talent changes with portco leadership — automation product owners, citizen developers, prompt engineers. Stand up AI/automation COEs in key companies. Deliver executive and manager-level training on AI…