Forward Deployed AI Engineer, Supply Chain

Role Brief: We are looking for Forward Deployed AI Engineers (FDEs) to partner with one of the nation's largest restaurant networks to redefine supply chain and store operations using AI and agentic workflows. This role goes beyond traditional engineering. You will work directly with supply chain managers, procurement leaders, and technology teams to design, build, and deploy AI agents that transform how food logistics and restaurant operations function, while enabling teams to become AI-native and self-sufficient. Based in Chicago, you will operate at the intersection of AI, engineering, and consumer supply chain logistics, delivering real-world impact across critical restaurant workflows.   You will work on transforming core operational processes such as: ✓ Demand Forecasting & Inventory Optimization: AI-driven predictive ordering to minimize food waste, optimize perishable inventory, and prevent stockouts based on weather, local events, and historical trends. ✓ Procurement & Supplier Management: Automating purchase order intake, invoice reconciliation, and dynamic sourcing when primary vendors face shortages. ✓ Logistics & Cold-Chain Orchestration: Intelligent agents for route optimization, delivery tracking, and automating responses to transit delays. ✓ Franchisee & Store Support Operations: AI contact center agents for rapid resolution of store-level supply issues, equipment maintenance dispatch, and delivery disputes. ✓ Menu Costing & Commodity Tracking: Automated mapping of ingredient lists to fluctuating global commodity prices to maintain margin visibility. ✓ Food Safety & Quality Compliance: Automated tracking, anomaly detection, and reporting of temperature logs and supplier audit analysis.