Forward Deployed AI Analyst

Summary

Makai Labs builds AI systems that automate real work inside companies. The Forward Deployed AI Analyst will train with engineering, product, and client teams before embedding in client engagements to identify workflows for automation and build AI agents. The role involves discovering current processes, prototyping solutions, supporting rollout, and measuring productivity and ROI.

Responsibilities

• You will spend about your first month in training and shadowing, then take one workflow end to end alongside a Makai lead before working more independently
• Engagements vary, but most follow the same arc. You start by learning how the work is done today. Discovery tasks include interviewing client Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), reading the documents they work from, and mapping the systems involved. Based on this discovery, you propose what to automate, work with the client team to write the spec, and build a prototype on Makai's platform. Makai engineers support the technical work throughout. If the prototype holds up with client practitioners, you run the rollout and measure productivity and ROI
• Not every project reaches every stage. Some end at discovery, and some prototypes don't survive user testing. Part of the job is figuring out what won’t work, so that we can focus our effort optimally
• Over time, Analysts will get put onto career development tracks toward AI engineering, product and implementation, or engagement leadership, depending on performance and interest

Skills

• We are looking for seniors, recent graduates, and early-career candidates who want a path toward company leadership
• An ideal candidate has shown ownership both inside and outside the classroom
• Built a product, tool, model, startup, research system, or internal process
• Led a club, team, lab effort, athletic group, event, or high-pressure project
• Took a messy internship project and turned it into something people used
• Python, JavaScript, SQL, or another programming/data-analysis language
• APIs, workflow automation, backend services, internal tools, or scripting
• LLMs, retrieval, agents, structured outputs, prompt design, or AI evaluation
• Data analysis, spreadsheets, dashboards, process mining, or financial/operating models
• Product specs, user stories, QA testing, Jira, Azure DevOps, or agile delivery
• Research, internships, startups, team leadership, athletics, or other high-accountability work
• Sponsorship: No VISA sponsorship available at this time
• Location: Remote-friendly, with Eastern Time overlap preferred

Qualifications

Must Haves

• We are looking for seniors, recent graduates, and early-career candidates who want a path toward company leadership
• An ideal candidate has shown ownership both inside and outside the classroom
• Built a product, tool, model, startup, research system, or internal process
• Led a club, team, lab effort, athletic group, event, or high-pressure project
• Took a messy internship project and turned it into something people used
• Python, JavaScript, SQL, or another programming/data-analysis language
• APIs, workflow automation, backend services, internal tools, or scripting
• LLMs, retrieval, agents, structured outputs, prompt design, or AI evaluation
• Data analysis, spreadsheets, dashboards, process mining, or financial/operating models
• Product specs, user stories, QA testing, Jira, Azure DevOps, or agile delivery
• Research, internships, startups, team leadership, athletics, or other high-accountability work
• Sponsorship: No VISA sponsorship available at this time

Nice to Haves

• Location: Remote-friendly, with Eastern Time overlap preferred

Benefits

• Remote-friendly, with Eastern Time overlap preferred.
• Paid IAP micro-cohort (January 2027).
• Career development tracks toward AI engineering, product and implementation, or engagement leadership, depending on performance and interest.