Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (Mandarin Fluency Required)

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

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 significant growth with enterprise customers in China, so we're specifically looking for engineers who are fluent in Mandarin and can communicate effectively with our China-based customers and partners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• 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.

YOU MIGHT THRIVE IF

• Have 2+ years in customer-facing technical role.
• Fluent in both Mandarin 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.

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 (gym, fitness classes, etc.)
• $300/month commuter reimbursement (gas, Caltrain, etc.)
• $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 (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 practical coding
• 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.