Forward Deployed Engineer

Forward Deployed AI Engineers Amsterdam · On site at Portera and client offices · Full time Portera is an AI, data and cloud engineering company based in Amsterdam. We work with multinational enterprises including Danone, FrieslandCampina, Nouryon and AkzoNobel, helping them turn technology into business results. We are a Microsoft Solutions Partner with advanced specialisation in data and AI, and a partner of Databricks and Anthropic. We’re looking for experienced Forward Deployed AI Engineers who combine technical depth with curiosity about how businesses work. You’ll work directly with clients to understand their priorities, recommend an approach and lead a team of engineers to deliver it—while remaining hands-on with the code. Your work will span AI agents, workflow automation, enterprise knowledge applications, data platforms and predictive models. You’ll help clients choose what to build, take solutions into production and measure the difference they make. What you’ll do - Turn open-ended requests into concrete proposals. Embrace questions that are still taking shape. Work with clients to clarify the business need, assess options and propose a solution with clear scope, estimates and measurable business outcomes. - Build and deploy data and AI systems. Develop solutions on Microsoft Azure and Databricks, from early prototypes through to reliable production applications integrated with client data and systems. - Use AI tools in your delivery work. Apply AI tools within Portera’s defined guardrails, with access to AI credits to support your work. - Lead a team of engineers. Set technical direction, organise delivery, review code and design decisions, and support colleagues’ development while contributing directly to implementation. - Own delivery and its commercial commitments. Prepare estimates and proposals, manage budgets and scope, communicate progress and risks, and agree changes with clients. - Manage the resources behind your solutions. Configure and operate Azure resources, manage access and deployments, and monitor performance, reliability and cost. - Build quality into production. Apply testing, evaluation, security, governance and monitoring throughout development. Ensure solutions are maintainable and ready for the people who will use them. - Develop lasting client relationships. Explain recommendations and trade-offs clearly, resolve obstacles and identify opportunities for further value. Shape follow-on proposals and discuss them with client decision-makers. - Contribute to Portera’s product landscape. Bring insights from client work into technical reviews and development discussions for our AI governance product and Connectoom, with opportunities to contribute reusable components and approaches. What you’ll bring - Around 10 years of software engineering experience, including experience delivering and operating production systems. - Strong Python and SQL skills, with sound practices in API development, integration, automated testing, version control and CI/CD. - Hands-on Microsoft Azure experience, including resource management, application deployment and AI services such as Microsoft Foundry and Azure OpenAI. - Hands-on Databricks experience across data engineering and AI, including Apache Spark/PySpark, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog and MLflow for model development, tracking and evaluation. - Practical experience building AI applications using large language models, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agents and machine learning, with attention to evaluation, governance and production performance. - Experience leading engineers and taking responsibility for technical decisions and delivery quality. - Commercial judgement: the ability to estimate work, manage budgets and scope, and discuss proposals and trade-offs with clients. - Clear communication in English and confidence working directly with business stakeholders. Dutch is a plus. - Curiosity, initiative and confidence working through ambiguity, asking useful questions and recommending what to do next. Both Azure and Databricks experience are essential. Why join Portera? You’ll work alongside an energetic engineering team that includes colleagues with more than 20 years of industry experience. You’ll have responsibility for meaningful client work, room to influence technical decisions and opportunities to contribute to Portera’s own products. We offer: - Direct mentorship from the CEO and close collaboration with experienced engineers. - Learning and development support, including training and participation in industry events. - An NS Business Card covering commuting and business travel. Apply via LinkedIn with your CV and a short note about a data or AI solution you helped take into production, your contribution and the result.