Company

NestAI is a European AI lab for defence delivering the adaptive operating system for modern battlefield operations. We develop adaptive intelligence for unmanned and command systems: AI that continuously learns from operational data and adapts to changing conditions.

NestOS is our open, modular, and interoperable platform that enables this at scale and keeps capability evolution under sovereign European control. Founded in 2025 by Peter Sarlin, whose previous company Silo AI became Europe's largest AI acquisition, NestAI brings together over 150 engineers and scientists and partners with leading European defence forces and industry.

Role Description

We are looking for a (Principal) Technical Lead (FDE) to join our team full-time in the Helsinki or Tampere Metropolitan Areas.

This is a senior, hands-on technical role where you will be the primary technical authority on our Forward Deployed Engineering team, responsible for owning large technical entities, guiding technical architecture, and leading field-deployed projects from a technical and execution perspective. You will also collaborate closely with our customers to understand their needs and translate them into our technical roadmaps. You will work on the front lines of physical AI integration, collaborating directly with client teams to ensure our solutions deploy flawlessly into demanding, real-world operational environments.

Day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Technical & Architectural Leadership: Own the overall technical architecture and integration strategy for large-scale customer deployments. Translate high-level operational requirements into robust system designs.

• Hands-on Field Execution: Act as the technical anchor on client projects—designing, debugging, and integrating end-to-end physical AI capabilities directly with customer hardware and software infrastructure.

• Technical Project Management: Drive project schedules, track technical deliverables, evaluate architectural risks, and manage complex system dependencies without losing momentum.

• Customer Interface: Serve as the trusted technical advisor for the stakeholders during site visits, integrations, and capability handovers.

Qualifications

• Seniority & Track Record: 10+ years of professional experience in software engineering, backend/systems architecture, or enterprise integrations, with extensive experience leading large-scale technical projects.

• Technical Depth: Deep understanding of modern software architecture, distributed systems, edge/cloud deployments, and software-hardware co-design.

• Customer-Facing Engineering: Proven experience working directly with external clients, handling both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and deploying software in non-standard or harsh operational environments.

• Agile & Execution Mindset: Highly skilled in managing technical velocity, managing dependencies in Jira/Agile tools, and establishing clear technical roadmaps under changing field conditions.

• Domain Expertise: Prior background or strong technical interest in AI/ML systems, robotics, autonomous systems, or defence/aerospace integration is considered as an advantage.

• Operational Readiness: Ability to travel occasionally to client sites.

Why join NestAI

At NestAI, you’ll build meaningful, real-world technology as part of a world-class team of engineers, scientists, and experienced professionals. You’ll work on systems where reliability genuinely matters, contribute to Europe’s security and resilience, and solve problems that demand depth, trust, and craftsmanship.

If you want to build with purpose — and with leading experts in the field — you’ve come to the right place.

Perks & Benefits

We offer a growing set of practical benefits to support your work and wellbeing, day to day:

• Occupational healthcare (currently provided by Mehiläinen)

• Epassi Flex benefit (sports, culture, commuting, wellbeing)

• Lunch benefit (25% tax-free coverage)

• Regular team lunches and all-hands events

• Your choice of Mac or PC

• Holiday allowance (50% of holiday salary)

• Phone benefit according to company policy (subscription and device)

We are continuously developing and expanding our benefits as we grow.

Practicalities

Employment is subject to applicable security screening (including SUPO, where required).

As a growing company, we have limited resources to support international relocation, and therefore NestAI is currently focusing on hiring talent already located in Finland. Remote work from abroad is unfortunately not possible for this position. Relocation within Europe might be an option - if it is an option for you as well, please bring the topic up in your cover letter!

NestAI is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants based on their skills, experience, and potential.