Forward Deployed Engineer, Infrastructure Specialist (South Korea)
DevOps Engineer · Mid · Full Time · Remote
Opens Cohere's application page
Role
What you'll do.
Cohere seeks a Forward Deployed Engineer, Infrastructure Specialist in South Korea to lead end-to-end deployment of North, our cutting-edge enterprise AI workspace platform, in private cloud and on-premises environments. You'll partner directly with industry leaders like RBC, Dell, and LG CNS to design secure AI infrastructure solutions, manage Kubernetes deployments, and ensure compliance across finance, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors. This role bridges our product engineering team and enterprise clients, requiring expertise in cloud infrastructure, DevOps practices, and fluent Korean communication with 20-40% travel expected.
Responsibilities
- Lead Enterprise Deployment Operations: Direct end-to-end deployment of North enterprise AI platform in private cloud and on-premises environments, including infrastructure planning, configuration, testing, validation, and production rollout with minimal downtime.
- Infrastructure Assessment and Strategy: Partner with enterprise IT teams to assess current infrastructure, evaluate security requirements, analyze data management practices, and design customized deployment strategies that align with organizational compliance standards and operational constraints.
- Kubernetes and Container Orchestration: Administer and optimize production Kubernetes clusters, implement Helm-based deployment automation, manage containerized workloads, configure networking policies, and ensure high availability and scalability of AI platform deployments.
- Security and Compliance Implementation: Ensure all deployments comply with data privacy regulations, implement security best practices, manage access controls, conduct security audits, and maintain compliance with enterprise security standards across financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors.
- DevOps and CI/CD Pipeline Management: Establish and maintain continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines using Git version control, automate infrastructure provisioning, implement infrastructure-as-code practices, and enable rapid iteration while maintaining production stability.
- Technical Troubleshooting and Support: Rapidly diagnose and resolve deployment-related technical issues, provide timely incident response to minimize customer downtime, conduct root cause analysis, and implement preventative measures to improve system reliability.
- Customer Engagement and Education: Work directly with customer engineering teams to gather requirements, provide technical guidance on best practices, document deployment procedures, conduct knowledge transfer sessions, and maintain strong customer relationships throughout project lifecycle.
- Cloud Infrastructure Optimization: Design and implement efficient cloud infrastructure across Azure, AWS, and GCP platforms, optimize resource allocation, manage networking and virtualization components, implement cost optimization strategies, and ensure scalable architecture for enterprise workloads.
Qualifications
What we look for.
Technical
Kubernetes Administration
Proven production-level experience administering Kubernetes clusters with expertise in cluster provisioning, workload orchestration, resource management, troubleshooting, and scaling.
Helm Package Manager
Advanced proficiency with Helm for templating Kubernetes deployments, creating reusable charts, managing releases, and automating complex multi-tier application deployments.
Cloud Platform Expertise
Strong hands-on experience with at least one major cloud provider (Azure, AWS, or GCP), including infrastructure provisioning, networking, storage solutions, identity management, and cost optimization.
DevOps and CI/CD
Demonstrated proficiency with DevOps methodologies, continuous integration and deployment pipelines, infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, Ansible), and automated testing frameworks.
Git Version Control
Expert-level proficiency with Git version control systems, including branching strategies, merge workflows, conflict resolution, and integration with CI/CD pipelines.
Enterprise Software Deployment
Hands-on experience deploying and managing enterprise software solutions in private, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments with understanding of complex IT infrastructure requirements.
Networking and Virtualization
Strong understanding of networking concepts (VPCs, subnets, security groups, firewalls), virtualization platforms, load balancing, DNS, and secure communication protocols for enterprise environments.
Linux System Administration
Solid Linux administration skills for managing servers, configuring system services, shell scripting, performance tuning, and troubleshooting production systems.
Education
Computer Science or Related Field
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or equivalent professional experience demonstrating deep technical competency in infrastructure and deployment systems.
Experience
Enterprise Infrastructure Experience
5+ years of hands-on experience in infrastructure engineering, DevOps, site reliability engineering, or cloud platform administration in enterprise environments.
Customer-Facing Engineering
Demonstrated experience working directly with customers in a technical capacity, understanding enterprise requirements, and delivering solutions that exceed expectations in dynamic environments.
Private Cloud and Hybrid Infrastructure
Proven track record deploying and managing applications in private cloud environments, on-premises data centers, or hybrid cloud architectures with multiple infrastructure layers.
Fast-Paced Environment Execution
Experience thriving in high-velocity environments with shifting priorities, ability to execute effectively under uncertainty, and strong project management with multiple concurrent initiatives.
Skills
Required
Kubernetes Administration
Production-level cluster management and orchestration
Helm
Kubernetes package management and templating
Cloud Infrastructure
Azure, AWS, or GCP platform expertise
DevOps Practices
CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure automation
Git Version Control
Advanced repository and workflow management
Linux Administration
System configuration and troubleshooting
Networking
Enterprise networking and security concepts
Korean Language
Fluent Korean with business-level English required for customer and team interactions
Preferred
AI and ML Ops
Nice to haveExperience deploying machine learning and AI platforms, understanding of LLM infrastructure requirements
Enterprise Security and Compliance
Nice to haveKnowledge of data privacy regulations (GDPR, HIPAA), security hardening, and compliance frameworks
Multi-Cloud Architecture
Nice to haveExperience managing workloads across multiple cloud providers for redundancy and flexibility
Infrastructure-as-Code
Nice to haveTerraform, CloudFormation, or similar IaC tools for reproducible infrastructure provisioning
Monitoring and Observability
Nice to haveExperience with Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack, or similar monitoring solutions
Containerization
Nice to haveDocker expertise and deep understanding of container security and optimization
Agile Methodologies
Nice to haveExperience working in Agile/Scrum environments with rapid iteration cycles
Tech stack
Languages
Frameworks
Databases
Tools
Other
Compensation
Pay and benefits.
Base·USD 80,000 – 130,000
Equity·Stock options
Benefits
Comprehensive Health and Wellness
Full health and dental benefits with a dedicated mental health budget supporting physical and psychological wellbeing
Retirement Security
RRSP matching for Canadian employees, 401K for US-based staff, and pension schemes in applicable regions ensuring long-term financial security
Generous Parental Leave
100% salary top-up for up to 6 months of parental leave for either parent, supporting work-life balance during critical family transitions
Extensive Paid Time Off
6 weeks of paid vacation (30 working days annually) plus company holidays, providing substantial time for rest and personal pursuits
Professional Development
Annual education and learning stipend for conferences, courses, certifications, and executive coaching to advance technical and leadership skills
Enrichment Benefits
Annual credits for arts and culture, fitness and wellness activities, quality time, and workspace improvements to enhance lifestyle outside work
Meal and Nutrition Support
Weekly lunch stipend of $75 USD or equivalent in local currency supporting daily healthy nutrition
Home Office Setup
One-time $500 home office stipend for remote workers to establish a productive and ergonomic workspace
Co-working Access
Co-working space benefits for remote employees in cities without Cohere offices, maintaining professional community connections
Office Infrastructure
For in-office employees: daily lunch programs, premium snacks, and regular community and social events fostering workplace culture
Travel and Offsite Programs
Budget for remote employees to travel to other offices for collaboration, plus annual company-wide offsite for team building and strategy alignment
Process
Interview steps.
- 01
Initial Screening
Recruiter phone or video call to discuss your background, interest in the role, and alignment with Cohere's mission. Conversation covers your infrastructure engineering experience, customer engagement background, and technical depth with Kubernetes and cloud platforms.
- 02
Technical Assessment
Live technical evaluation assessing your hands-on expertise with Kubernetes, Helm, cloud infrastructure, and DevOps practices. This may include architecture design exercises, troubleshooting scenarios, or live coding to demonstrate infrastructure automation capabilities.
- 03
Infrastructure Project Deep Dive
Technical interview focused on a recent enterprise deployment or infrastructure project. Discuss your approach to designing solutions, handling customer requirements, managing complexity, and ensuring security and compliance in production environments.
- 04
Customer Engagement and Communication
Interview exploring your experience working directly with enterprise customers, managing expectations, communicating technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, and how you've handled challenging customer situations in high-pressure environments.
- 05
Leadership and Team Collaboration
Conversation with engineering leadership or team members about your approach to problem-solving in ambiguous situations, collaboration with cross-functional teams, mentoring capabilities, and how you thrive in fast-paced startup environments.
- 06
Final Leadership Interview
Meeting with senior leadership or department heads to discuss strategic thinking, career goals, cultural fit with Cohere's mission to democratize enterprise AI, and long-term growth potential within the organization.
Full posting
Original listing.
Who are we?
Cohere is the leading security-first enterprise AI company. We build cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products that are designed to solve real-world business problems.
We’re training and deploying frontier models for enterprises who are building AI systems. We believe that our work is instrumental to the widespread adoption of AI and we are looking for folks that want to be part of that.
We obsess over what we build. Each one of us is responsible for contributing to increasing the capabilities of our models and the value they drive for our customers. Cohere is a team of researchers, engineers, designers, and more, who are all passionate about their craft.
We are a global technology company headquartered in Toronto with key offices in London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin and Seoul. Join us!
About North:
North is Cohere's cutting-edge AI workspace platform, designed to revolutionize the way enterprises utilize AI. It offers a secure and customizable environment, allowing companies to deploy AI while maintaining control over sensitive data. North integrates seamlessly with existing workflows, providing a trusted platform that connects AI agents with workplace tools and applications.
Why This Role?
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape how enterprises harness the power of AI in real-world applications. As a bridge between our core North product and our clients’ engineering teams, you’ll be at the forefront of solving complex problems and securely integrating AI into critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, and telecommunications. Our esteemed clients include industry leaders like RBC, Dell, and LG CNS.
We are seeking engineers who deeply care about customers and want to work at the cutting edge of Agentic AI.
Note: between 20 - 40% travel anticipated
In this role, you will:
Lead end-to-end deployment of North in private cloud and on-premises environments, including planning, configuration, testing, and rollout.
Partner with enterprise IT teams to assess infrastructure, security requirements, and data management practices.
Experiment at a high velocity and with a high level of quality to engage our customers and ultimately deliver solutions that exceed their expectations
Design and implement deployment strategies tailored to client needs, ensuring compliance with data privacy and security standards.
Troubleshoot and resolve deployment-related technical issues, providing timely solutions to minimize downtime.
You may be a good fit if:
You have experience with and enjoy working directly with customers
You have experience deploying enterprise software in private/hybrid cloud environments
You have proven experience administering production Kubernetes clusters and expertise with Helm
Familiarity with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and tools like Git for version control
You have strong expertise in cloud infrastructure (Azure, AWS, GCP), networking, and virtualization
You excel in fast-paced environments and can execute while priorities and objectives are a moving target
You have fluent Korean and business-level English
Full-Time Employees at Cohere enjoy these Perks:
A weekly lunch stipend of $75/£75 or equivalent in your local currency for lunch.
Full health and dental benefits, including a separate budget for mental health.
RRSP matching, 401K, Pension Scheme.
100% Parental Leave top-up for up to 6 months, for either parent.
Annual enrichment benefits:
Arts & culture, fitness/wellness, quality time, and a workspace improvement credit.
Education & learning stipend for conferences, courses, and coaching.
6 weeks of paid vacation (30 working days!)
Budget for traveling to other offices if you are remote, plus an annual company offsite.
How and Where We Work:
Cohere is remote-friendly, but we also have offices in Toronto, London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin and Seoul with more opening soon.
For those in the office: a daily lunch program, plenty of snacks, and regular community and social events.
For those not near an office: a co-working benefit so you can work alongside others in your city.
Everyone receives a $500 home office stipend to set up your workspace properly.
If any of the above doesn’t line up exactly with your experience, we still encourage you to apply.
We strive to create an inclusive work environment for all; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to providing equal opportunities. Should you require any accommodations during the recruitment process, please submit an Accommodations Request Form, and we will work together to meet your needs.
We may use AI-enabled tools to screen and assess applicants against the criteria for this position. This helps our recruiters identify potentially qualified candidates, but it doesn't limit the applications our recruiters may review or consider.
Beware of Scams: Cohere will never ask for payment or third-party services (e.g., CV writing) as part of our hiring process. All legitimate roles are listed on the Cohere careers page and LinkedIn only, with all communications from Cohere employees coming from an @cohere.com or @cw.cohere email alias. If jobs are viewed on other sites then please verify these through our official careers page.
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