Senior Applied AI Engineer / Forward Deployed Engineer

OverviewLocation: Fully Remote (Client Team Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota)Employment Type: Full-TimeBuild Practical, Production-Ready AI Solutions for the EnterpriseTrissential is hiring a Senior Applied AI Engineer / Forward Deployed Engineer to join our client’s team and help design, build, and deploy AI solutions that solve real business problems in complex enterprise environments.This is not a research-only role. It’s an opportunity to work closely with real users, tackle ambiguous challenges, and deliver production-ready AI systems that create measurable business value. If you thrive at the intersection of engineering, data, and business impact—and enjoy turning ideas into working systems—this role is built for you.What’s in It for You?Applied AI with Real Impact – Build AI-powered applications and workflows that directly improve enterprise operations and decision-makingForward-Deployed Engineering Experience – Work closely with stakeholders to understand workflows and deliver tailored, high-value solutionsOwnership & Influence – Shape architecture decisions across LLM apps, RAG pipelines, APIs, integrations, and deployment strategiesEnterprise-Grade Systems – Integrate AI with Microsoft 365, Azure, SharePoint, SQL, APIs, and large-scale enterprise platformsFully Remote Flexibility – Collaborate with experienced teams while working from anywhere in the U.S.Production-Focused Work – Focus on reliable, scalable AI systems—not just prototypes or demosYour Role & ResponsibilitiesPartner with business and technical stakeholders to understand workflows, challenges, and success metricsTranslate ambiguous problems into clear technical solutions, designs, and delivery plansDesign and build AI-powered applications using LLMs, APIs, and enterprise data systemsDevelop production-grade backend services using Python and frameworks like FastAPI or FlaskBuild and maintain RAG systems, including:– Document ingestion and normalization– Chunking, metadata, and embedding strategies– Vector, keyword, and hybrid search– Reranking and relevance tuning– Source attribution and groundingIntegrate AI solutions with SharePoint, Microsoft Graph, SQL databases, internal APIs, and business applicationsDesign secure systems that respect access control, governance, and enterprise compliance requirementsBuild observable, reliable, and maintainable AI workflows in production environmentsEstablish evaluation frameworks for LLM systems (accuracy, groundedness, latency, completeness, and failure modes)Iterate rapidly through prototypes, pilots, and production releases based on user feedbackCollaborate with engineering, data, security, and product teams to ensure adoption and long-term sustainabilityMake pragmatic technology choices across Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, and open-source toolsDocument architecture, decisions, trade-offs, and operational requirementsSkills & Experience You Should Possess5+ years of experience in software engineering, applied AI, or enterprise systemsStrong Python development experience building production-grade APIs or servicesHands-on experience with large language model applicationsExperience with Azure OpenAI Service, OpenAI APIs, or similar platformsProven experience designing and building RAG systemsStrong understanding of prompt design, grounding, context management, and LLM limitationsExperience integrating with enterprise data sources, APIs, and document systemsAbility to work directly with business stakeholders and translate needs into working solutionsExperience working within secure, governed enterprise environmentsStrong communication, systems thinking, and problem-solving skillsAbility to balance speed, usability, scalability, and maintainabilityBonus Points If You HaveExperience in a forward-deployed, consulting, or solutions engineering roleHands-on experience with Azure AI Search or similar vector/hybrid search platformsExperience with reranking, relevance tuning, and retrieval evaluationFamiliarity with frameworks such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, or Semantic KernelExperience with LLM evaluation frameworks and quality measurementBackground in building AI agents or workflow automation systemsExperience with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Graph API, or Copilot StudioFamiliarity with Azure AI Foundry or similar toolingCloud architecture, CI/CD, observability, and production support experience in AzureEducation & Certifications You NeedBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience)Microsoft or Azure certifications are a plus but not requiredWhat We OfferAt Trissential, we partner with leading organizations to deliver impactful solutions while ensuring our consultants are supported, valued, and set up for long-term success.Competitive Compensation –$75–$85 per hour. Final compensation is determined based on skill alignment, years of experience, and fair, market-based rates by geography.Comprehensive Benefits for you an