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…