Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Salient, a rapidly growing YC-backed AI startup in consumer finance, is seeking a Forward Deployed Software Engineer to join their team. In just two years, they've achieved product-market fit and scaled to 8-figure ARR, becoming a leader in financial voice AI. The company, backed by a16z with the largest Series B2B Series A funding, has built a 19-person team developing speech AI agents handling millions of daily customer calls for major financial institutions.

The role involves working directly with customers to implement and customize Salient's technology. As a Forward Deployed Software Engineer, you'll be the primary technical resource for customers implementing AI agents, focusing on delivering reliable, compliant, and efficient customer service solutions. The position requires strong coding skills in Python and Java, excellent communication abilities, and comfort working in a dynamic environment.

The company maintains an in-person office culture in San Francisco, requiring 4 days per week on-site presence. The role offers competitive compensation ranging from $120K to $300K plus equity. This position is ideal for engineers who thrive in fast-paced environments, enjoy customer interaction, and want to work at the cutting edge of AI technology in the financial sector.

Working at Salient means joining a mission to pass the Turing test for conversational speech in telephony settings. The role demands high intensity and commitment, with flexibility required during major launches and high-impact sprints. Experience with regulated industries or consumer finance is a plus.