Forward Deployed Engineer – Torque / SYSPRO

SYSPRO is hiring a Forward Deployed Engineer for Torque, its Industrial AI platform designed to bring artificial intelligence into real manufacturing and distribution environments.

The role is part of a small founding team and represents the first dedicated Forward Deployed Engineer position for Torque. The successful candidate will work closely with customers to identify operational problems where AI can create measurable value, develop and deploy solutions, and help customers adopt the technology in their day-to-day operations.

The position combines software engineering, artificial intelligence, data integration and customer engagement. The engineer will take ownership of customer engagements from technical discovery through production deployment and enablement.

Torque can be deployed alongside SYSPRO ERP or with organisations using other ERP platforms. The role therefore involves working across different customer environments and integrating AI solutions with business systems and operational data.

The position is based in Johannesburg, with customer engagements conducted primarily remotely and on site when required or preferred

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity may suit an experienced software or AI engineer who enjoys working directly with customers and turning operational problems into working technology solutions.

The role is particularly suited to someone who:

• Has experience building and shipping software into production environments.
• Has practical experience working with LLMs, AI agents, APIs and data pipelines.
• Can work with customer data and integrate information across business systems.
• Enjoys rapidly prototyping, testing and deploying solutions.
• Can communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Is comfortable working in an environment where the Forward Deployed Engineering function is being established from the ground up.
• Has an interest in applying AI to real manufacturing and distribution challenges.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

Value Discovery and Product Development

• Identify Customer Opportunities: Work with pilot customers to identify operational challenges where Torque can deliver meaningful value.
• Test AI Use Cases: Rapidly prototype and trial potential use cases, measure their results and determine which solutions provide genuine operational benefits.
• Measure Outcomes: Use customer data to quantify the outcomes produced by Torque and share evidence with the Torque product, Presales and Product Marketing teams.
• Validate the Value Proposition: Use real customer engagements to determine which applications of Torque provide the strongest value.

Deployment and Customer Enablement

• Own Customer Deployments: Manage assigned deployments from technical discovery through to production rollout.
• Drive First Value: Establish a measurable first-value milestone with each customer and work towards achieving that outcome quickly.
• Integrate Business Systems: Connect, configure and extend Torque against customer ERP and operational data environments, including SYSPRO and other ERP systems.
• Enable Customers: Help customer teams understand and operate Torque independently.
• Demonstrate Business Value: Make the impact of deployments visible to customer leadership using their own operational data and results.

Forward-Deployed Customer Engagement

• Work Directly With Customers: Engage primarily remotely while developing a detailed understanding of customer data, systems and operational environments.
• Build Customer Relationships: Develop trust across different levels of the customer's organisation, from operational teams through to executive sponsors.
• Adapt Solutions: Adjust technical solutions based on how they perform within the customer's real operational environment.
• Support Presales: Provide technical expertise during demonstrations and proof-of-value engagements.

Building the Forward Deployed Engineering Playbook

• Create Reusable Assets: Turn customer engagements into reusable integration patterns, agent configurations, data mappings and deployment playbooks.
• Improve Deployment Efficiency: Use lessons from each engagement to reduce deployment time for future customers.
• Establish Standards: Help define the tools, methods and standards that will support the growth of the Forward Deployed Engineering function.

Governance, Quality and Responsible AI

• Maintain Quality: Ensure deployed solutions meet SYSPRO standards for accuracy, security and reliability.
• Protect Customer Data: Handle customer and company information in accordance with SYSPRO's data protection and IT governance requirements.
• Follow Responsible AI Practices: Apply testing and human oversight when deploying AI solutions.
• Document Deployments: Maintain appropriate deployment documentation to support ongoing operation and future handover.

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science or a related field.
• Equivalent practical experience may also be considered.
• Certification in AI/ML, data engineering or a cloud platform such as Azure, AWS or Google Cloud would be beneficial.
• SYSPRO or another ERP product certification would be beneficial.

Experience

Applicants should have experience with:

• Building and shipping software in production environments.
• Building solutions using LLMs and/or AI agents.
• Working with APIs and data pipelines.
• Deploying solutions for customers or end users in live operational environments.
• Integrating data across business systems.

The following experience would be beneficial:

• Experience with SYSPRO or another ERP system, including data models, integration patterns or implementation processes.
• Experience in forward-deployed engineering, professional services, presales or solutions engineering.
• Experience working in manufacturing or distribution environments.
• Experience contributing to an early-stage or zero-to-one product build.

Skills and Knowledge

• Practical knowledge of modern AI tools and technologies, including LLMs, agent frameworks, prompt design and APIs.
• Ability to quickly understand a customer's data landscape and operational environment.
• Ability to translate operational problems into practical technical solutions.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts to different audiences.
• Ability to rapidly prototype, iterate based on feedback and deploy working tools.
• Understanding of responsible handling of customer data.
• Awareness of security and data governance considerations when working with AI and business information.

Personal Attributes

• A strong bias toward building and delivering working solutions.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and taking ownership.
• Able to adapt to environments where processes and templates are still being established.
• Customer-focused and comfortable working directly with end users and business stakeholders.
• Able to learn quickly from real-world deployments and continuously improve solutions.
• Responsible and careful when working with customer and company data.

Additional Requirements

• The position is based in Johannesburg.
• The role follows a hybrid working arrangement.
• Customer engagements may require on-site work when necessary or preferred.

What You Should Prepare Before Applying

Applicants should prepare an updated CV that clearly demonstrates their experience with software engineering, AI and customer-facing technical work.

Depending on the experience you have, consider highlighting:

• Your relevant Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• Production software projects you have built and deployed.
• Experience with LLMs, AI agents, APIs and data pipelines.
• Examples of integrating different systems or working with business data.
• Customer-facing implementation, consulting, professional services or solutions engineering experience.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SYSPRO or comparable platforms.
• Manufacturing, distribution or other operational technology experience.
• Cloud certifications or AI/ML certifications, where applicable.
• Examples of projects where you moved a solution from an idea or prototype into production.

Only include certifications, technologies and experience that you actually possess.

What You Could Expect

The Forward Deployed Engineer will work within a small founding team focused on establishing Torque's Forward Deployed Engineering capability.

The role provides exposure to:

• Real-world industrial AI deployments.
• Manufacturing and distribution operational environments.
• Customer data and business-system integrations.
• LLMs, AI agents and modern AI tooling.
• Production deployments and measurable customer outcomes.
• Customer discovery and technical problem-solving.
• The development of reusable deployment methods and engineering standards.

The position also provides an opportunity to contribute to the development of a next-generation AI product and help shape the processes and standards of the Forward Deployed Engineering function from its early stages.

Benefits and Workplace Offerings

The vacancy lists the following benefits and workplace offerings:

• 25 annual leave days.
• 30 days paid sick leave over a three-year cycle.
• Hybrid working environment, with three office days as determined by the function or manager.
• 10% pension contribution.
• Medical aid.
• Life insurance.
• Income continuation protection.
• Funeral benefit.
• Provident fund administration fee.
• Global Education Protection.
• Bonus and commission programmes.
• Maternity leave of six months at half pay.
• Paternity leave of two weeks at full pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free barista coffee daily.
• Gym facilities.
• Free daily lunch.
• Free fruit on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Free refreshments and snacks daily.

Application Process

Applicants interested in this opportunity should follow SYSPRO's official recruitment instructions.

1. Review the Forward Deployed Engineer requirements and confirm that your experience aligns with the role.
2. Prepare an updated CV focused on production engineering, AI, data integration and relevant customer-facing experience.
3. Visit the employer's official recruitment platform using the application link provided with the vacancy.
4. Complete the application form and provide accurate professional and educational information.
5. Upload any documents requested by SYSPRO.
6. Review the information provided before submitting your application.
7. Submit your application according to the employer's stated instructions.

Note: A specific application link and closing date were not included in the vacancy information provided.

Before You Apply

Before submitting an application, applicants are encouraged to:

• Confirm that they meet the minimum education and experience requirements.
• Review their experience with LLMs, AI agents, APIs and data pipelines.
• Identify production projects that demonstrate their ability to build and deploy software.
• Highlight customer-facing or implementation experience where applicable.
• Include relevant ERP, cloud, AI/ML or data engineering certifications.
• Make sure their CV demonstrates measurable technical or operational outcomes where possible.
• Confirm that they are comfortable with the hybrid working arrangement in Johannesburg.
• Verify the latest vacancy information and application instructions on the employer's official recruitment platform.

Vacancy Portal's Application Tip

For this position, your CV should demonstrate more than your ability to build software. Show that you can take a technical solution into a real customer's environment and make it deliver measurable value.

Where possible, describe projects using a simple problem ? solution ? outcome format. For example, explain the operational problem you encountered, the technology or AI solution you developed, how you integrated it with existing systems or data, and what changed as a result.

Because this role combines AI engineering with customer engagement, make your experience with LLMs, agents, APIs, data pipelines, production deployments and business-system integration easy to find. If you have worked directly with customers, implemented enterprise systems or supported proof-of-concept projects, those experiences should also be clearly visible on your CV.

Source / Official Application

This opportunity was published by SYSPRO for its Torque Industrial AI platform.

Applicants should use the employer's official recruitment platform to review the full vacancy details and submit their applications.

Official Application: Application link not provided in the supplied vacancy information.

Company Website: SYSPRO

Employment Equity

[This section has been omitted because no specific employment equity statement was included in the vacancy information provided.]

Disclaimer

Vacancy Portal provides this opportunity as an informational resource for job seekers. Applicants should verify the requirements, salary, benefits, closing date and application instructions on the employer's official website before applying.

Vacancy Portal is not the recruiting employer and does not guarantee employment, shortlisting or selection. All recruitment decisions are made by the employer.