Snorkel AI
1 open Forward Deployed Engineer role at Snorkel AI. Curated with comp bands.
Comp on the board: $150K–$320K.
On the board since Jul 2026 · still hiring
Our take
Why Snorkel AI
The programmatic-labeling pioneer turned $3.5B 'AI data factory' — packaging forward-deployed data delivery as a product for frontier labs and enterprises.
- FDE type
- Solutions engineering
- Travel
- Medium
- Comp
- Competitive
- Stage
- Late-stage
A good fit if you're…
- Data- and ML-leaning engineers who like customer delivery over pure research
- People who want frontier-lab clients without being at a lab
- Senior ICs (5+ years) fluent in Python, SQL, and LLM evaluation workflows
- Candidates who want to shape a delivery motion at a company scaling fast
From Stanford research to an AI data factory
Snorkel began with programmatic data labeling out of the Stanford AI Lab and launched commercially in 2019 under CEO Alex Ratner. It has since moved up the stack from labeling software to a 'data factory': a data-as-a-service business that supplies training data, evaluations, and simulated environments to the AI labs and enterprises building frontier models.
What the data factory actually sells
Rather than selling only tooling, Snorkel now delivers the data itself. Its hybrid approach uses Snorkel's own software and models to generate data synthetically, working alongside subject-matter experts to hit quality bars labs can't produce internally at speed. The FDE org is how that gets delivered — which is the tell in this hire: a platform company packaging expert delivery as a product.
Forward deployed = ambiguous need to production data
The role centers on translating ambiguous customer needs into production-grade data, evaluation, and ML-assisted workflows, with end-to-end ownership of the pipeline. In practice you build evaluators, design quality-measurement systems, generate synthetic datasets, then package them with documentation and support delivery teams. It's structured, delivery-focused solutions engineering rather than long on-site embeds.
The skills bar
Snorkel asks for 5+ years across data science, data engineering, ML engineering, or solutions engineering, with strong Python and SQL for data tooling. You'll need production experience with LLM validation and evaluation workflows, plus API integration and custom-tooling ability, and the communication skills to turn stakeholder requirements into specifications. It leans senior — this is Senior/Staff-level work.
Comp and the FDE ladder
The live Senior/Staff posting lists $180K–$320K plus variable compensation and equity, based in New York City or San Francisco (hybrid). Snorkel is also hiring a Director of Forward Deployed Research and a Head of Forward Deployed Engineering — so early ICs are joining a real ladder being built out, not a one-off seat, with room to grow into the function's leadership.
The growth you're joining
In September 2026 Snorkel raised a $350M Series E at a $3.5B valuation — up from $1.3B about 17 months earlier — on a reported $375M annualized run rate that it said grew eighteenfold over the prior year. Insight Partners and S32 led, with Lightspeed, Greylock, GV, and others participating. Demand for expert AI training data is the tailwind under the whole FDE build-out.
Questions candidates ask
Is this an embedded, on-site-heavy role?
Not in the classic sense. It's hybrid out of New York City or San Francisco and delivery-focused — translating customer needs into production data pipelines — rather than long-term on-site embeds at the customer.
What experience does Snorkel want?
5+ years across data science, data/ML engineering, or solutions engineering, with strong Python and SQL and hands-on LLM validation and evaluation experience. It's Senior/Staff-level work.
What's the pay?
The live Senior/Staff posting lists $180K–$320K plus variable compensation and equity, based in NYC or SF (hybrid).
Is there room to move up?
Yes. Snorkel is simultaneously hiring a Director of Forward Deployed Research and a Head of Forward Deployed Engineering, so the FDE function is a ladder being built rather than a single seat.
Analysis updated 2026-09-29
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