Lead Forward Deployed Engineer

Vanguard AustraliaMelbourneOn-siteFull-time2 weeks ago

Vanguard is seeking a Lead Forward Deployed Engineer to embed with its Investment Management Group and Finance division, turning complex ideas into governed, production-quality AI and data solutions. The role requires deep software and data engineering expertise, hands-on AI/agentic solution delivery, and strong financial services domain knowledge, based on-site in Melbourne.

What you'll do

Embed directly with researchers, portfolio managers, and traders across Vanguard’s international business to understand complex workflows, surface high-value opportunities from each region, and own their prioritization through a shared global backlog in close consultation with GIFS and Investment Management leaders, aligning FDE capacity to measurable investment and operational outcomes.
Serve as a senior technical partner to international business and GIFS leaders, applying domain and engineering judgment to determine when AI, machine learning, optimization, deterministic development, or human judgment is the appropriate response to a business problem.
Personally architect, build, and validate AI-enabled applications, automations, and redesigned workflows, leading complex solutions from early experimentation through MVP and limited production.
Shape and lead the systematic replacement of high-risk and critical-risk Excel, Access, Tableau, and other EUCT solutions across investment and supporting functions, migrating valuable logic and data into governed, supportable environments via an SDLC process.
Establish scalable engineering patterns for AI-enabled solutions, including agent workflows, human-in-the-loop controls, reusable components, and evaluation methods addressing quality, safety, latency, cost, and operational readiness.
Exercise senior technical judgment over solution maturity, partnering with Product, Engineering, Architecture, Platform, Security, and Risk teams to recommend whether capabilities should be refined, elevated, transitioned, reused, or retired.
Modernize workflows and decision-support processes across multiple investment domains and functions by reducing manual effort, strengthening data quality and governance, and enabling improved insights, faster decisions, and more efficient execution.
Lead through hands-on delivery by setting technical direction, developing critical solution components, mentoring other engineers, and resolving complex technical or delivery barriers across related engagements.
Translate successful international engagements into reusable code, templates, evaluation methods, reference patterns, and implementation guidance that strengthen future FDE delivery across regions and the broader GIFS organization.
Partner with international business and GIFS leadership to communicate delivery status and realized value, identify broader deployment opportunities, and shape the continued evolution of Vanguard’s engineering practices and responsible AI adoption.

What you need

Must-have

PythonAIMachine LearningOptimizationData EngineeringPrompt EngineeringRAGAgentic Solutions

Nice-to-have

GenAI/LLM-powered solutions

Soft skills

Technical leadershipMentoringInfluenceCommunicationJudgmentProblem framing

Forward Deployed EngineerFinancial ServicesAIMachine LearningData EngineeringLeadOn-siteMelbourneVanguard

/What you'll do

/What you need

Must-have

Nice-to-have

Soft skills

What you'll do

What you need