The retrieval engine built for agents
Hornet is an ambitious startup building the next generation of retrieval infrastructure. Our engine powers agentic systems with an API surface that agents can configure, deploy, feed, query, and optimize autonomously. Building on battle-tested technology, serving billions of users, petabytes of data, and millions of requests per second, we're rethinking retrieval for the agentic era.
We have an office in the Bay Area to tap into market opportunities in the region, while the engineering team is based in Trondheim. We serve enterprise clients globally, enabling them to get quality work done with agents.
The role
We are looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer to work directly with customers to design, deploy, and scale systems built on the Hornet platform.
This is a customer-facing engineering role at the intersection of engineering, product, and go-to-market. You will lead enterprise deployments, solve complex technical challenges in production, and ensure customers are successful using Hornet in real-world systems.
We expect our FDE's to also be willing to represent Hornet at meetups and events and help spread awareness of our company and offering.
What you'll do
- Lead end-to-end enterprise deployments of the Hornet retrieval engine.
- Own technical implementation, integration, and delivery for customer systems.
- Troubleshoot complex issues across APIs, data pipelines, and distributed systems.
- Proactively identify risks and resolve customer challenges before they impact production.
- Act as a trusted technical advisor, aligning Hornet's capabilities with customer business goals.
- Translate product capabilities into clear technical and commercial value.
- Build prototypes, demos, and reference implementations tailored to customer use cases.
- Partner closely with engineering to improve the product based on real-world deployments.
- Represent Hornet in the field—supporting customer conversations, attending industry events, and helping drive adoption in the U.S. market.
- Contribute to lead generation and early-stage opportunities through technical credibility and engagement.
What we're looking for
- 5–10 years of experience in software engineering, solutions engineering, or forward deployed roles.
- Strong engineering background with hands-on implementation experience.
- Experience with Kubernetes.
- Experience deploying AI systems, agentic workflows, or enterprise search/retrieval systems.
- Ability to debug and solve complex technical issues across system boundaries.
- Strong customer-facing experience working with enterprise engineering teams.
- Commercial awareness and ability to support revenue growth and opportunity development.
- Experience working cross-functionally with distributed engineering and product teams.
- Strong communication skills—able to explain complex systems clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience with cloud environments, APIs, and modern developer tooling.
- Proficiency in languages such as Python, TypeScript, or similar.
Who we're looking for
- Forward operators: You like being in the field, solving real problems with customers.
- Builders: You ship working systems, not just ideas or slide decks.
- Customer-obsessed: You care deeply about making customers successful.
- High-agency: You take ownership of ambiguous problems and drive them to resolution.
- Technically sharp: You can go deep into systems and debug complex issues.
- Commercially aware: You understand how technical work connects to business outcomes.
What we offer
- A front-row seat to deploying real AI systems in production at enterprise scale.
- Direct impact on customers, product direction, and company growth.
- A small, high-performing team with deep technical expertise.
- Close collaboration with both U.S. and Norway-based teams.
- Pay Scale: The reasonably expected salary range for this role is $180.000 – $260.000 annually.
- Equity: Significant equity stake from our ESOP in an early-stage, venture-backed company.
Equal employment opportunity
Hornet is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Ready to bring retrieval infrastructure to the front lines of AI adoption?
Send your CV and a short note about why this role interests you.
