Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (Spanish Fluency Required)
Quick facts
- Pay
- 160k - 300k
- Type
- Full-time
- Location
- Redwood City, CA
- Languages
- Spanish
- Skills
- Python, JavaScript, TypeScript
- Industry
- Information Technology — 686 open jobs
- Visa in listing
- H-1B, OPT
- Apply
- Free to apply — never pay anyone for a job offer or visa sponsorship
Job description
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.
- 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
Retell AI transforms customer experience with voice AI for enterprises, including customers like CVS/Aetna, American Airlines, Lenovo, and Grab. We have more customer stories than we can tell!
As a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll deliver Retell's voice AI solutions to enterprise clients, embedding with their teams to build production-ready systems. You'll bridge technical and non-technical stakeholders with exceptional communication, driving adoption and shaping our platform through customer insights.
We’re seeing strong growth with enterprise customers across Latin America, so we’re specifically looking for engineers who are fluent in Spanish and can communicate effectively with customers and partners across the region.
- Lead end-to-end delivery of projects using Retell's voice agent platform - from prototyping to production, communicating progress and risks clearly.
- Become go-to experts on building voice AI solutions, especially LLM prompting tips & tricks.
- Build full-stack integrations (Python, JavaScript) with enterprise tools (e.g. CRMs, ERPs, scheduling tools)
- Partner with sales to engage clients to gather requirements, prototype demos, and present system designs.
- Scope projects, resolve blockers, and align teams with concise updates.
- Codify reusable patterns into tools or platform components.
- Translate field feedback into actionable product and GTM recommendations.
- Have 2+ years in customer-facing technical role.
- Fluent in both Spanish and English, with the ability to communicate effectively with enterprise customers.
- Open to occasional travel, including international travel to support customer engagements when needed.
- Excel at communicating and explaining complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Have delivered production systems in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
- Write production-grade code in Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, or a similar language.
- Understand LLM-powered systems and their impact on user experience.
- Proactively manage risks, drive execution, and maintain momentum under pressure.
JOB DETAILS
- Cash: 160k - 300k
- 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.
- 100% coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurance
- $70/day DoorDash credit for unlimited breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
- $200/month wellness reimbursement (gym, fitness classes, etc.)
- $300/month commuter reimbursement (gas, Caltrain, etc.)
- $75/month phone bill reimbursement
- $50/month internet reimbursement
- Best Offer Upfront: Choose from three cash-equity balance options; no negotiation needed.
- Top 1% Talent: Above-market pay (top 5 percentile) to attract exceptional builders.
- High Ownership: Small teams, >$1M revenue/employee, and significant equity.
- Performance-Based: Offers tied to interview performance, not experience or past salaries.
INTERVIEW PROCESS
- 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 II (qualified)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 $166,400 a year (converted from an hourly rate, 2,080 hours) — that's Level II (qualified). In the wage-weighted H-1B lottery a Level II registration gets 2 entries; estimated selection chance about 31%.
* 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.