Founding Forward Deployed Architect

About the Company

Catio is the Architecture IDE — the control plane for modern software systems. We build a living model of production systems, align business goals with technical reality, and generate decision-grade insights, modernization and optimization plans, and execution-ready feature specs. Backed by Eniac Ventures, RRE, and operators from Databricks, Dropbox, Akamai, and Cerner, we’re defining a new category in software and infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture discovery with technical prospects and customers to map production realities, topology, dependencies, and constraints
• Translate ambiguous business objectives into structured engineering plans and decision-grade artifacts
• Design and execute repeatable proof-of-value engagements that validate Catio in real customer environments
• Create architecture summaries, risk/trade-off analyses, and modernization plans
• Partner with Account Executives to multi-thread complex deals and elevate engagement to executive sponsors like CTOs and VPEs
• Build and standardize repeatable assets including reference architectures and POV frameworks
• Feed high-fidelity insights from customer work back into product and deployment strategy

Requirements

• Experience in Solutions Architecture, Sales Engineering, Forward-Deployed Engineering, or Technical Consulting
• Background in high-growth SaaS, infrastructure, AI/ML, DevTools, or cloud-native environments
• Proven track record of leading proof-of-value or pilot engagements that converted into production deployments
• Hands-on experience integrating platforms via APIs, cloud providers, orchestration layers, and CI/CD pipelines
• Experience operating in early-stage or founder-led environments
• Exposure to modern data, cloud, AI-native, and infrastructure ecosystems

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to operate across both technical validation and delivery layers
• Experience supporting complex, multi-stakeholder enterprise sales cycles
• Strong ability to turn early customer work into scalable assets and implementation patterns