The Forward Deployed Engineer I role at Handshake involves building production software that helps frontier AI labs solve real-world problems. The ideal candidate will partner with senior engineers to develop, deploy, and iterate on customer-facing solutions while working across the full software stack.
Handshake is a company that powers 25 million job seekers, 1 million+ employers, and 1,600 educational institutions. They have recently started Handshake AI, which is the fastest-growing AI data business in history. They work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations, publish benchmarks, and push the boundary of data. They have grown from $0 to ~$1B run rate and pay ~$60M to over 30K individuals every month.
Why required: TypeScript is required for building scalable and maintainable software applications.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in TypeScript by asking questions about their experience with the language and how they have used it in previous projects.
Why required: React is required for building user interfaces and single-page applications.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in React by asking questions about their experience with the library and how they have used it in previous projects.
Why required: Modern backend development is required for building scalable and maintainable server-side applications.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in modern backend development by asking questions about their experience with frameworks such as Node.js and Express.
Why required: Relational databases are required for storing and managing data in a structured and organized way.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in relational databases by asking questions about their experience with databases such as PostgreSQL.
Why required: APIs are required for building interfaces between different software systems.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in APIs by asking questions about their experience with designing and implementing APIs.
Why required: Software engineering fundamentals are required for building high-quality software applications.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in software engineering fundamentals by asking questions about their experience with design patterns, testing, and debugging.
Why required: Cloud platforms are required for building scalable and maintainable software applications.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in cloud platforms by asking questions about their experience with platforms such as AWS or GCP.
Why required: Docker is required for building and deploying containerized software applications.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in Docker by asking questions about their experience with containerization and how they have used Docker in previous projects.
Why required: Kubernetes is required for building and deploying scalable software applications.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in Kubernetes by asking questions about their experience with container orchestration and how they have used Kubernetes in previous projects.
Why required: CI/CD pipelines are required for building and deploying software applications quickly and reliably.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in CI/CD pipelines by asking questions about their experience with automation tools such as Jenkins or GitLab CI/CD.
Why required: AI-powered applications are required for building intelligent software applications.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in AI-powered applications by asking questions about their experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
Why required: Machine learning infrastructure is required for building and deploying machine learning models.
How recruiters evaluate: The recruiter will evaluate the candidate's proficiency in machine learning infrastructure by asking questions about their experience with frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
Freshers with a strong foundation in computer science and software engineering can apply for this role.
Experienced software engineers with a background in modern backend development, relational databases, and cloud platforms can apply for this role.
Graduates with a degree in computer science or a related field can apply for this role.
B.Tech graduates with a specialization in computer science or a related field can apply for this role.
MCA graduates with a specialization in computer science or a related field can apply for this role.
Diploma holders with a specialization in computer science or a related field can apply for this role.
The average salary for a software engineer in India is around 15-20 lakhs per annum.
Freshers can expect a salary range of 10-15 lakhs per annum.
Experienced software engineers can expect a salary range of 20-30 lakhs per annum.
The salary for this role is competitive and offers a generous equity grant vested over 4 years.
A senior software engineer will lead a team of software engineers and be responsible for designing and implementing complex software applications.
A technical lead will be responsible for leading a team of software engineers and providing technical guidance and oversight.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to modern backend development with Node.js.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to relational databases with PostgreSQL.
To succeed in this role, you need to have a strong foundation in computer science and software engineering, as well as experience with modern backend development, relational databases, and cloud platforms.
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Location
India
Employment Type
Full time
Location Type
On-site
Department
Engineering
Overview
Application
About Handshake
Handshake was founded on a simple belief that everyone deserves a path to a great career, regardless of where they went to school or who they know. Today, we power 25 million job seekers, 1 million+ employers, and 1,600 educational institutions.
In 2025, we started Handshake AI and built the fastest-growing AI data business in history. We work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations, publish benchmarks, and push the boundary of data. We’ve grown from $0 to ~$1B run rate and pay ~$60M to over 30K individuals every month.
Why join Handshake now:
Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
Partner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions
Work together with engineers, scientists, operators, and more from Palantir, Meta, Scale AI, and former YC founders
Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue
About Handshake AI
Human data is the core infrastructure to AI advancement. Frontier AI labs currently improve model capabilities with various data-intensive post-training techniques. We believe that data spend for AI training will increase by 3-5x in the next few years and continue for much longer as models take on new domains. Handshake AI supports all of the frontier AI labs, working on their most complex data at the largest scale.
About the Role
We're hiring a Forward Deployed Engineer I to join our Forward Deployed Engineering team, building production software that helps frontier AI labs solve real-world problems.
You'll partner with senior engineers to develop, deploy, and iterate on customer-facing solutions while working across the full software stack. As part of our growing engineering organization in India, you'll collaborate closely with teammates across India and have opportunities to work alongside Engineering, Research, Product, and Operations teams in the US on high-impact customer initiatives.
This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy solving challenging technical problems, learning quickly, and building software in a fast-moving, highly collaborative environment.
Location: Bengaluru, India. This is an in-office role.
What You'll Do
Build and maintain production software supporting customer deployments
Partner with senior engineers to design and deliver customer-facing solutions
Collaborate with Engineering, Research, Product, and Operations teams to build scalable production systems
Develop full-stack applications using React, TypeScript, and modern backend technologies
Help translate customer requirements into reliable, scalable software solutions
Improve system reliability, performance, and maintainability
Continuously learn, grow, and contribute to a rapidly evolving engineering organization
What We're Looking For
2+ years of professional software engineering experience
Strong programming skills using TypeScript, React, and modern backend development
Solid understanding of relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL), APIs, and software engineering fundamentals
Experience building and maintaining production software
Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS or GCP
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to thrive in fast-moving, ambiguous environments
Excellent collaboration and communication skills
Nice to Have
Experience collaborating with globally distributed engineering teams, including teams based in the US
Experience working on customer-facing products or implementation projects
Experience with AI-powered applications or machine learning infrastructure
Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines
Experience working in a fast-growing startup or high-growth engineering organization
What Success Looks Like
Customer deployments launch successfully and deliver measurable value
Production systems are reliable, scalable, and maintainable
Engineering work helps accelerate customer adoption and platform growth
You become a trusted contributor across engineering teams in both India and the US
You continue to grow technically while helping build Handshake AI's engineering organization in India
You’ll Thrive Here If You:
Are motivated by solving operational problems that have direct, measurable impact.
Want to be part of a company shaping the future of AI through human data.
Can navigate ambiguity, act with urgency, and keep multiple workstreams moving in parallel.
Perks:
Generous Equity Grant vested over 4 years
Housing Bonus: 1.3 Lakhs spread throughout the first year
Well Defined Performance Bonus ranging between 10 - 100% of base
Medical Insurance Coverage
Food credit for every in person day.
