Forward Deployed Engineer, New Grad
Quick facts
- Pay
- $150,000 - $250,000
- Type
- Full-time
- Location
- Redwood City, California
- Skills
- Python, JavaScript
- Industry
- Information Technology — 671 open jobs
- Visa in listing
- H-1B, OPT
- Apply
- Free to apply — never pay anyone for a job offer or visa sponsorship
Job description
ABOUT RETELL AI
Retell AI is using first-principles thinking to reimagine the call center with cutting-edge voice AI. Thousands of companies now use Retell's AI voice agents to handle sales, support, and logistics calls that once required large teams of human agents. Backed by Y Combinator, Alt Capital, and other leading investors, we've scaled to $80M in ARR with a team of 50, up from $5M at the start of 2025, and are now valued at over $1.5B.
Our vision for 2026 is to build a modern CX platform where entire contact centers are powered by AI. Instead of basic automation that needs constant human tuning, we're creating intelligent AI “workers” that act as frontline agents, QA analysts, and managers, continuously executing, monitoring, and improving every customer interaction.
We're growing fast and looking for ambitious builders who want to tackle hard technical problems, move quickly, and have a real impact on one of the fastest-growing voice AI companies in the world.
Let's build the future together.
Recent recognition:
No. 1 Best Places to Work in the Bay Area, San Francisco Business Times 2026
Top 50 AI Apps, a16z (2025)
#3 Fastest-Growing Software Company, G2 Best Software Awards 2026
Best Agentic AI Software, G2 Best Software Awards 2026
#4 Fastest-Growing Software Vendor, Brex Benchmark 2025
Enterprise Tech 30 Class of 2026, Nasdaq & Wing VC
Top-Ranked Startup, Lean AI Leaderboard
Backed by Y Combinator
ABOUT THE ROLE
We're looking for new grad builders who want to get their hands dirty and work directly with customers.
As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll work closely with enterprise clients to build and launch voice AI solutions. You'll spend roughly 50% of your time building and 50% working directly with customers, helping understand their needs, solve problems, and get projects into production.
This is a great fit for someone who has completed technical internships, has a strong interest in startups, and genuinely enjoys working with people and customers.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Build and launch voice AI solutions for enterprise customers.
Write production code in Python, JavaScript, or similar languages.
Build integrations with CRMs, ERPs, scheduling tools, and other systems.
Work directly with customers to understand their needs and solve technical problems.
Partner with sales on demos, prototypes, and technical discussions.
Learn Retell's platform and become an expert in building voice AI agents.
Turn customer feedback into product and engineering improvements.
YOU MIGHT THRIVE IF
You're a recent graduate with a strong technical background.
You've completed one or more software engineering, technical, or similar internships.
You like building things and figuring things out on your own.
You have a strong interest in startups and want to work in a fast-moving environment.
You enjoy working directly with customers and explaining technical concepts.
You're comfortable with ambiguity and taking ownership.
You can code in Python, JavaScript, or a similar language.
You're excited about AI and want to learn how to build real-world AI systems.
JOB DETAILS
Cash: $150k - $250k
Equity: Equity Provided
Location: Redwood City, CA, US - relocation provided
US Visas: Retell AI is open to sponsoring work authorization for qualified candidates, including H1B/H-1B, TN, L-1, E-3, F-1 (OPT/CPT), and O-1 visas.
OTHER BENEFITS
100% coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurance
$70/day DoorDash credit for unlimited breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
$200/month wellness reimbursement
$300/month commuter reimbursement
$75/month phone bill reimbursement
$50/month internet reimbursement
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
Best Offer Upfront: Choose from three cash-equity balance options; no negotiation needed.
Top 1% Talent: Above-market pay to attract exceptional builders.
High Ownership: Small teams, significant responsibility, and meaningful equity.
Performance-Based: Offers tied to interview performance, not experience or past salaries.
INTERVIEW PROCESS
Online Assessment
Recruiter Intro Call (15 min): Learn more about Retell and share your background and experience.
Technical Interview (60 min): Live coding and API-focused technical screen.
Product & Customer Screen (60 min): Focused on product understanding and how customers use Retell.
Onsite/Virtual Interviews (2 hrs): 90-minute technical interview followed by a 30-minute meeting with the team.
Visa sponsorship record: Retell AI, Inc.
Sponsors actively| Fiscal year | H-1B LCAs | USCIS approvals | USCIS denials | PERM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 11 | 5 | 0 | — |
| FY2025 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — |
| FY2024 | — | 3 | 0 | — |
✔ Retell AI, Inc. filed 14 H-1B applications for this kind of role (Software Developers) in the period above.
Also filed: E-3 Australian × 1 — a good sign for Australian (E-3), Chilean and Singaporean (H-1B1) candidates.
Roles they sponsor most
- software engineer5 LCAs · median $235k
- founding machine learning engineer2 LCAs · median $200k
- founding software engineer2 LCAs · median $185k
- member of technical2 LCAs · median $235k
- engineer platform systems1 LCA · median $260k
Which visas can work for this job
Occupation: Software Developers (SOC 15-1252).
- Mentioned in the listing
H-1B, OPT
- H-1B cap-exempt employer
Regular cap-subject employer — a new H-1B needs to win the lottery in March (unless you already hold cap-counted H-1B status).
- TN (citizens of Canada and Mexico)
This kind of role may fit the USMCA profession “Computer Systems Analyst (or Engineer, for engineering-degree holders)” — it depends on the actual duties. No lottery, no cap; you need the matching degree or license.
- E-3 (Australia) and H-1B1 (Chile, Singapore)
This employer has filed before (E-3 Australian: 1). Same degree requirement as H-1B, but no lottery and a separate quota that is rarely filled.
- O-1 (extraordinary ability)
For candidates with awards, publications, press, a high salary or critical roles at distinguished organizations. No cap, no lottery; the employer files a petition.
- STEM OPT extension (F-1 students)
Requires an E-Verify employer. We didn't find this company in the E-Verify list — ask HR.
Salary vs prevailing wage
Level I (entry)Software Developers · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Annual prevailing wages set by the Department of Labor (OFLC).
| Level | Prevailing wage | H-1B lottery odds* |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | $137,093 | ~15% |
| Level II | $165,131 | ~31% |
| Level III | $193,149 | ~46% |
| Level IV | $221,187 | ~61% |
This job pays $150,000–$250,000 a year — that's Level I (entry). In the wage-weighted H-1B lottery a Level I registration gets 1 entry; estimated selection chance about 15% — below average.
* Odds are DHS projections for the FY2027 wage-weighted lottery (actual results vary by year and employer). Since the FY2027 cap season the H-1B lottery is weighted by wage level: Level I = 1 entry, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4. The level is set by the offered wage against the prevailing wage for the occupation and worksite. Separately, a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions for workers outside the US was announced in 2025; as of September 2026 a federal court ruling keeps it unenforceable while appeals continue — check the current status.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor OFLC disclosure data (H-1B/H-1B1/E-3 LCA, PERM), OFLC prevailing wage data, USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub, E-Verify participating employers. Data loaded: LCA FY2024–FY2026, PERM, USCIS Data Hub, OFLC wages; updated 2026-10-03. Employers are matched by name, so records of companies with similar names can occasionally be mixed up. This is general information, not legal advice — talk to an immigration attorney about your case.