Forward Deployed Engineer, Infrastructure Specialist (UK Public Sector)

Forward Deployed Infrastructure Engineer · Senior · Full Time · Remote

United Kingdom · RemoteGBP 90k – 140k5d ago
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Role

What you'll do.

This role positions you as a critical infrastructure specialist embedded with enterprise customers implementing Cohere's North AI workspace platform in the UK public sector. You'll lead end-to-end deployments of secure, private cloud AI infrastructure while working directly with high-profile clients like RBC, Dell, and LG CNS, requiring deep expertise in Kubernetes, cloud infrastructure, and GPU-accelerated systems. The position combines technical depth in infrastructure engineering with customer-facing strategic thinking, offering significant exposure to agentic AI applications in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and telecommunications.

Responsibilities

  • Lead End-to-End Enterprise Deployments: Orchestrate complete North platform deployments in private cloud and on-premises environments for Fortune 500 enterprises, managing planning, infrastructure assessment, configuration, testing, validation, and production rollout across complex IT landscapes.
  • Infrastructure Assessment and Design: Conduct comprehensive infrastructure evaluations with enterprise IT teams to assess existing systems, security requirements, compliance frameworks, and data management practices, then architect deployment strategies tailored to client needs and regulatory requirements.
  • Kubernetes and Container Orchestration: Administer large-scale production Kubernetes clusters with expertise in Helm package management, GPU node orchestration, scheduling, and distributed system optimization to support AI workload performance requirements.
  • Security and Compliance Implementation: Design and implement deployment architectures that maintain strict compliance with data privacy regulations, security standards, and public sector information governance requirements specific to UK government and regulated industries.
  • Technical Troubleshooting and Support: Diagnose and resolve complex deployment-related technical issues including infrastructure bottlenecks, networking constraints, and system integration challenges, providing rapid solutions to minimize customer downtime and optimize performance.
  • Customer Collaboration and On-Site Delivery: Travel 20-40% to customer sites for direct engagement, hands-on implementation support, stakeholder communication, and knowledge transfer with enterprise IT and engineering teams to ensure successful adoption and operational excellence.
  • DevOps and CI/CD Pipeline Management: Implement and maintain robust CI/CD pipelines using Git version control, automated testing frameworks, and deployment automation to enable rapid, reliable iterations while maintaining high code quality standards.
  • High-Velocity Problem Solving: Execute rapidly in dynamic environments where requirements shift and priorities evolve, balancing speed with quality while experimenting with novel deployment approaches to engage customers and exceed their expectations.

Qualifications

What we look for.

Technical

  • Production Kubernetes Administration

    Demonstrated expertise administering large-scale production Kubernetes clusters at enterprise scale, including cluster architecture, node management, resource allocation, and performance optimization.

  • Helm Package Management

    Proven experience with Helm for managing complex application deployments, creating custom charts, managing dependencies, and orchestrating multi-component system deployments.

  • Cloud Infrastructure Platforms

    Strong expertise with at least one major cloud provider (Azure, AWS, or GCP), including VPC/networking, compute instances, managed services, IAM, and cost optimization for enterprise workloads.

  • DevOps and CI/CD Practices

    Proficiency with DevOps methodologies, CI/CD pipeline architecture, containerization, automated testing, and infrastructure-as-code tools for reproducible deployments.

  • Enterprise Software Deployment

    Hands-on experience deploying mission-critical enterprise software in private cloud, hybrid cloud, and on-premises environments with attention to security, compliance, and operational resilience.

  • GPU Infrastructure and Scheduling

    Familiarity with GPU node orchestration, CUDA workload scheduling, distributed inference systems, and performance optimization for accelerated AI computing workloads.

  • Networking and Virtualization

    Solid understanding of enterprise networking concepts, firewall configurations, VPNs, load balancing, and virtualization technologies relevant to secure infrastructure deployments.

Education

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Related Field

    Formal qualification in computer science, software engineering, information systems, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating strong foundational technical knowledge.

Experience

  • Enterprise Customer Engagement

    Demonstrated success working directly with enterprise customers during complex technical implementations, translating business requirements into technical solutions and managing stakeholder expectations.

  • Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects

    Proven track record delivering infrastructure projects at scale in regulated or highly secure environments, with attention to compliance, security governance, and operational excellence.

  • Rapid Iteration and Execution

    Experience thriving in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities, balancing agility with quality, and maintaining high standards while delivering under pressure.

Skills

Required

  • Kubernetes

    Expert-level proficiency in Kubernetes architecture, cluster operations, networking (service meshes), storage, and troubleshooting production systems.

  • Helm

    Advanced experience with Helm charts, templating, repositories, and managing complex application deployments.

  • AWS or Azure or GCP

    Deep hands-on experience with at least one major cloud platform's infrastructure services, networking, and deployment tools.

  • DevOps and CI/CD Tools

    Proficiency with tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, or similar platforms for build automation, testing, and deployment.

  • Git and Version Control

    Strong command of Git for code management, branching strategies, and collaborative development workflows.

  • Linux/Unix Systems

    Comfortable managing Linux systems, shell scripting, package management, and system administration at the enterprise level.

  • Infrastructure Security

    Understanding of security best practices for cloud infrastructure, authentication mechanisms, encryption, compliance frameworks, and secure deployment patterns.

  • Networking Fundamentals

    Solid grasp of TCP/IP, DNS, load balancing, VPNs, firewalls, and network troubleshooting for enterprise environments.

Preferred

  • GPU Orchestration and CUDA

    Nice to have

    Experience with GPU workload scheduling, NVIDIA CUDA, and distributed inference systems optimization.

  • French Language Fluency

    Nice to have

    Ability to communicate fluently in French, valuable for supporting Cohere's Paris office and French enterprise clients.

  • Distributed Systems Knowledge

    Nice to have

    Understanding of distributed system design principles, consensus algorithms, performance optimization, and debugging complex multi-node architectures.

  • UK Public Sector Experience

    Nice to have

    Previous engagement with UK government agencies, NHS, or other public sector organizations and their specific compliance requirements.

  • Machine Learning Infrastructure

    Nice to have

    Familiarity with ML model serving platforms, inference optimization, and supporting data science workflows at scale.

  • Infrastructure-as-Code

    Nice to have

    Proficiency with tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible for defining and managing infrastructure programmatically.

  • Monitoring and Observability

    Nice to have

    Experience with observability platforms like Datadog, Prometheus, Grafana, or ELK stack for monitoring production systems.

  • Security Clearance

    Nice to have

    Existing or ability to obtain UK Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance for public sector engagements.

Tech stack

Languages

PythonGoBash/ShellYAML

Frameworks

KubernetesHelmDocker

Databases

PostgreSQLRedisManaged Cloud Databases

Tools

GitJenkins or GitLab CI or GitHub ActionsTerraformPrometheus and GrafanakubectlArgoCD

Other

Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)GPU Workload OrchestrationEnterprise NetworkingLinux Systems Administration

Compensation

Pay and benefits.

Base·GBP 90,000 – 140,000

Equity·Stock options

Benefits

  • Weekly Lunch Stipend

    GBP 75 per week for meals, supporting work-life balance and employee wellness.

  • Comprehensive Health and Dental Coverage

    Full health insurance with dental benefits included, plus a dedicated mental health budget for wellbeing support.

  • Pension Scheme

    UK Pension Scheme enrollment with employer contributions and RRSP/401K matching for international employees.

  • Parental Leave Top-Up

    100% salary continuation for up to 6 months parental leave for either parent, supporting family planning and work-life integration.

  • Annual Enrichment Benefits

    Budget allocation for arts and culture, fitness and wellness programs, quality time experiences, and workspace improvement credits to enhance employee experience.

  • Education and Learning Stipend

    Annual budget for professional development including conferences, online courses, certifications, and executive coaching to support career growth.

  • Generous Paid Vacation

    6 weeks of paid vacation (30 working days annually) supporting work-life balance and employee wellbeing.

  • Office Access and Co-Working Benefits

    Access to Cohere offices in London, Toronto, NYC, San Francisco, and other global locations, plus co-working space stipend for remote employees.

  • Home Office Setup Stipend

    GBP 500 one-time budget to establish a productive home workspace with ergonomic equipment and technology.

  • Company Offsite Events

    Annual company-wide gatherings and travel budget for remote employees to visit office locations and build team connections.

  • Equity Compensation

    Stock options as part of compensation package, enabling employees to participate in company growth and success.

Process

Interview steps.

  1. 01

    Initial Screening Call

    Phone or video conversation with recruiter to discuss background, motivation for the role, and alignment with Cohere's culture and mission in enterprise AI infrastructure.

  2. 02

    Technical Assessment

    Evaluation of infrastructure engineering expertise through discussion of past projects, Kubernetes proficiency, cloud platform experience, and problem-solving approach to complex deployment scenarios.

  3. 03

    Customer Engagement Scenario

    Behavioral interview focused on customer-facing skills, communication abilities, experience managing stakeholder expectations, and examples of successful enterprise technology delivery.

  4. 04

    Infrastructure Design Deep-Dive

    Technical conversation with infrastructure team members covering system design decisions, deployment architecture, security considerations, and approach to GPU-accelerated infrastructure challenges.

  5. 05

    Leadership and Culture Conversation

    Discussion with senior leadership about vision for the role, growth opportunities within Cohere, and alignment with company values around innovation, customer obsession, and technical excellence.

  6. 06

    Final Offer Stage

    Compensation negotiation, clarification of role expectations, DV clearance requirements, travel expectations, and onboarding timeline discussion.

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.

Location: UK

Active DV clearance is highly preferred

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.

  • Travel up to 20–40% to work on-site with customers and partners

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 large-scale 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 are fluent in French

It's a bonus if you have…

  • Familiarity with GPU node orchestration & scheduling

  • You understand the intersection of GPU infrastructure, inference systems, Kubernetes, distributed systems, and performance optimization.

 

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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