Assistant Forward Deployment Data Engineer

As an Assistant Forward Deployment Data Engineer, you will deploy, operate, and support Rhombus' AI platform directly within customer environments. Working alongside experienced Forward Deployment Engineers, Software Engineers, and Product teams, you'll bring mission-critical AI systems from development into real-world operations.

This role is highly hands-on, fast-paced, where you'll work directly with defense and government customers to install, configure, troubleshoot, and optimize AI platforms running across cloud, on-premises, and edge environments. The role combines infrastructure support, systems administration, cloud technologies, and customer-facing deployment work. 

Every deployment is different. You'll solve complex technical challenges, adapt software to customer environments, and ensure systems remain reliable throughout their operational lifecycle. Success requires strong technical fundamentals, curiosity, ownership, and the ability to work closely with both engineers and end users.

The ideal candidate enjoys solving technical problems, working directly with customers, and operating in dynamic environments where every deployment presents new challenges. This position offers an excellent opportunity for early-career engineers interested in cloud infrastructure, DevOps, systems engineering, and defense technology.

NOTE: We seek two kinds of candidates. 1) Civilian and 2) Candidates with Defence backgrounds.

Civilian Candidates: B.Tech./B.E. in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE), or MCA from a recognized institution.

Defence Background Candidates: Diploma in Information Technology, Electronics, Electronics & Communication, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline, with relevant hands-on experience in Networking, IT Infrastructure, Radar Systems, Communication Systems.

Work Location

This is a full-time, on-site position based at designated customer or project locations across India.

The role requires frequent travel and, when necessary, temporary relocation to customer sites to support deployments, system integration, testing, and continual operational support. You will work closely with customer operators, technical teams, and Rhombus engineers throughout the deployment lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Deploy and configure Rhombus' AI platform across cloud, on-premises, and edge computing environments.
• Partner with customers to understand operational requirements and translate them into successful technical deployments.
• Install, integrate, and validate hardware, networking, and compute infrastructure required to support AI workloads.
• Support the deployment, configuration, maintenance, and monitoring of IT infrastructure across both on-premises and cloud environments, including AWS.
• Assist with site readiness assessments, hardware installation, rack mounting, cable management, and power/network connectivity in accordance with established deployment standards.
• Deploy, monitor, and maintain containerized applications while supporting CI/CD workflows within Docker-based environments.
• Perform routine system monitoring, troubleshoot infrastructure and application issues, and assist with incident management, issue tracking, and basic root cause analysis.
• Support software patching, system upgrades, logging, monitoring, and ongoing maintenance activities for development and production environments.
• Assist with backup verification, disaster recovery testing, restoration activities, and preventive maintenance to ensure system reliability and customer support commitments.
• Serve as an on-site technical liaison between customer stakeholders and internal Engineering, Product, and Data teams to coordinate deployments, communicate progress, and resolve technical issues.
• Maintain technical documentation including deployment reports, installation records, asset inventories, configuration documentation, SOPs, testing results, and operational logs.
• Support system validation, customer acceptance testing (UAT), and post-deployment verification activities.
• Escalate technical risks, blockers, and operational issues to senior team members while providing timely project status updates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electronics & Communication Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Alternatively, a diploma in Information Technology, Electronics, Electronics & Communication, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline with relevant hands-on experience supporting IT infrastructure, networking, communications, or defense systems.
• 1–3+ years of experience in deployment engineering, systems engineering, DevOps, infrastructure engineering, site reliability, or systems administration.
• Fundamental understanding of Linux operating systems, networking concepts, and system administration.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS.
• Exposure to Docker, containerized applications, and CI/CD concepts.
• Experience troubleshooting hardware, operating systems, networks, or enterprise applications.
• Strong analytical, organizational, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively across technical and non-technical teams.
• Ability to work independently in customer-facing environments while collaborating closely with distributed engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience deploying production software in customer environments.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes, infrastructure automation, or configuration management tools.
• Experience with scripting using Python or Bash.
• Familiarity with monitoring, observability, and logging platforms.
• Experience supporting AI, data, or distributed computing platforms.
• Exposure to defense, aerospace, government, or other mission-critical environments.
• Experience working with disconnected, edge, or hybrid cloud deployments.

Who You Are

• You enjoy solving complex technical problems in ambiguous environments.
• You are comfortable working directly with customers and building trusted technical relationships.
• You take ownership of technical outcomes from deployment through operational support.
• You thrive in fast-moving environments where every customer deployment presents unique engineering challenges.
• You communicate clearly across technical and non-technical audiences.
• You are highly organized, detail-oriented, and maintain high standards for documentation and operational excellence.
• You are adaptable, resourceful, and excited to work at the intersection of AI, software, and defense technology.
• You are willing to travel and work on-site wherever mission requirements demand.