Associate Forward Deployed Engineer

About OpenTrain

OpenTrain is the #1 platform for finding and building careers in AI training and data labeling. OpenTrain AI is the hiring and contracting organization for this role, connecting technical contributors with work that helps develop and improve modern artificial intelligence systems.

Creating an OpenTrain account is free, and candidates can build a profile and apply in minutes.

About AI Training and Data Operations

AI training is the human side of building artificial intelligence. People prepare, review, and evaluate the data and software workflows that help AI systems learn from accurate examples and reliable feedback.

This role supports the technical operations behind those workflows, including data ingestion, validation, monitoring, and issue escalation. It is an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge AI work remotely while developing practical experience with production data processes.

The Role

We are hiring Associate Forward Deployed Engineers to support data ingestion and customer data operations. You will work alongside senior forward deployed engineers to execute scoped technical workflows with clear processes and guidance.

The role is described as full-time and is offered as hourly contractor work with an expected commitment of at least 20 hours per week. The expected project duration is 6 or more months, with compensation of $40 to $60 per hour.

• Work arrangement: Remote
• Experience level: Entry level
• Expected commitment: At least 20 hours per week
• Project duration: Expected to run for 6 or more months
• Compensation: $40-$60 per hour
• Work language: English

What You'll Do

You will handle defined technical workflows that move customer data safely through ingestion pipelines. The work combines careful execution, validation, communication, and operational judgment.

• Size, prepare, and transfer customer datasets safely across pipelines.
• Execute and monitor data ingestion workflows to ensure consistency.
• Validate transfer results and identify system discrepancies.
• Communicate status, blockers, and follow-ups with customers and internal engineering teams.
• Maintain clear handoffs and operational documentation.
• Identify gaps or unexpected behavior and escalate issues appropriately.
• Handle sensitive customer data with care and strict security standards.

Requirements

This is a junior technical role for reliable engineers who can follow established procedures while recognizing when an issue falls outside defined parameters. You should be comfortable learning internal tools and working with customer data in production environments.

• Experience with computer code programming labeling workflows.
• Subject-matter expertise in customer data ingestion and technical operations.
• Solid familiarity with Python, SQL, REST APIs, or data workflows.
• Strong ownership, discipline, and attention to detail.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to follow runbooks and escalate issues appropriately.
• Sound technical judgment when working with customer data and production environments.
• High reliability and consistent availability for scoped, hourly work.
• Native or bilingual English proficiency.

Preferred Experience

The following experience is helpful for handling larger-scale ingestion and technical operations workflows, but it is listed as nice to have rather than required.

• Experience working with large datasets or distributed data pipelines.
• Familiarity with cloud storage solutions and data transfer workflows.
• Comfort with command-line tools, Git, or Linux environments.
• Exposure to ETL processes, data ingestion, validation, or QA workflows.
• Experience debugging technical issues using log aggregators and monitoring tools.
• Familiarity with JSON, CSV, or Parquet data formats.
• Prior experience in a startup, technical operations, implementation, or customer-facing engineering environment.

Location and Eligibility

This remote opportunity is available to candidates based in the following locations. You must be comfortable working in English and meet the stated experience and availability requirements.

• United Kingdom
• United States
• Canada
• Germany
• India
• New Zealand
• Australia
• Netherlands
• Ireland
• Greenland
• Iceland
• United States Minor Outlying Islands
• British Indian Ocean Territory

How This Work Builds AI

Every major AI system depends on people who prepare, check, and manage high-quality data. By monitoring ingestion workflows, validating results, and escalating discrepancies, you help ensure that the information used in AI training and evaluation is dependable.

Through OpenTrain, you can start building a career in a fast-growing field where technical contributors help shape how state-of-the-art AI systems are developed and improved.

• Create an OpenTrain account for free.
• Build your professional profile.
• Review the opportunity and confirm your eligibility.
• Apply in minutes.