ROLE: Principal AI & Salesforce Architect (Forward Deployed Engineering)
BUSINESS NEED: Why is the role open / what project does it support? To serve as a high-impact, strategic AI architect bridging frontier AI/agentic systems and enterprise Salesforce environments. The role embeds into high-uncertainty, high-risk client engagements across industries to shape roadmaps with C-suite executives, architect agentic systems (Agentforce, Data 360, MuleSoft, external models), build early prototypes, solve complex failure modes, and stabilize solutions through production before transitioning ownership to delivery teams.
TIMING:
- Start Date: Nov 15th
- Duration: 3-6 Months- Contract to Perm
- Full Time/Part Time (include hours): Full Time (Senior, client-facing)
LOCATION / DELIVERY:
- Remote / Hybrid / Onsite: Client-facing / Hybrid
- Candidate Location: Not specified
- Onshore / Nearshore / Offshore: Onshore
- Travel: Regular travel to client sites
CANDIDATE PROFILE: Must-Have Skills:
- Enterprise Salesforce Architecture & Integration: 10+ years delivering complex enterprise platform architectures; deep mastery of the Salesforce security model, data modeling, and limits, with hands-on depth in at least one of Agentforce, Data 360, or MuleSoft, plus integration breadth across SAP, ServiceNow, and Databricks.
- AI & Agentic Systems Mastery: Practical expertise with frontier models (GPT, Claude, Gemini) and open-weight models (Llama, Mistral, Nemotron), paired with agentic architecture patterns (planning, multi-agent orchestration, tool use, RAG/grounding, guardrails, memory, least-privilege delegated authority, and identity).
- Hands-On Troubleshooting & Production Scar Tissue: Proven record taking complex AI or platform solutions live into production; ability to inspect/debug code (Apex, LWC, Flow, APIs, traces), isolate runtime failure modes, and articulate specific trade-offs made during critical escalations.
Nice-to-Have:
- Salesforce credentials: CTA (Certified Technical Architect), Application Architect, System Architect, Platform Developer, or specialist credentials in Agentforce, Data 360, or MuleSoft.
- Visible thought leadership (published papers/articles, conference speaking, reference architectures).
- Background as a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), Applied AI Engineer, or Field CTO at an AI lab, major ISV, or systems integrator.
- Additional Notes:
- Role Boundaries: This is not a demo-circuit role, a permanent single-account fixture, a pure delivery lead, or a sales engineer seat. The architect owns the "technical truth," stays on-site while risk and ambiguity are highest, guides the solution through production validation, and then transitions operational ownership to delivery teams.
- Communication Profile: Requires a "double register"—able to establish equal credibility with enterprise CIOs and skeptical lead systems architects.
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