Forward Deployed AI Engineer

StephenBackholm

Systems ArchitectTechnical Founder

Customer-facing technical founder and systems architect translating ambiguous business problems into deployed software, AI systems, and operational infrastructure.

TEL623-229-6571 BASERelocating to Wilmington, NC AVAILOpen to Remote, Hybrid & 25-50% Travel WEBstephenbackholm.com
Profile
Professional Summary

Customer-facing technical founder and systems architect.

Customer-facing technical founder and systems architect with 15+ years of experience translating ambiguous business problems into deployed software, AI systems, and operational infrastructure.

Deployed 150+ applications, websites, and business systems serving thousands of users and supporting 1,000+ transactions.

Combines hands-on technical delivery with executive communication, technical discovery, team leadership, revenue operations, and full lifecycle ownership from architecture through production adoption.

Core Qualifications

Forward-Deployed Delivery
Qualification 01

Forward-deployed delivery

Stakeholder discovery, requirements, architecture, prototyping, implementation, deployment, training, incident response, and optimization.

Qualification 02

Applied AI

Agentic workflows, tool-enabled agents and sub-agents, RAG, structured outputs, model routing, evaluations, human approval gates, voice AI, and MCP-enabled systems.

Qualification 03

Full-stack systems

JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, SQL, PostgreSQL, Supabase, Neon, React/Vite, Express, APIs, SDKs, WebRTC, authentication, and OAuth.

Qualification 04

Production operations

Docker, cloud and VPS deployment, Cloudflare, Vercel, Replit, database migrations, rollbacks, monitoring, encryption, secrets, rate limits, security reviews, and AI-assisted remediation.

Qualification 05

Customer and leadership

Executive presentations, technical discovery, project scoping, user training, cross-functional delivery, KPI management, and hybrid teams of up to 12.

Professional Experience

2008 to Present
2025–Present · Independent Consultant

Forward Deployed Systems Architect

Customer-Facing Engagements

Embed with founder-led companies to convert executive priorities and operational friction into production software, AI workflows, marketing infrastructure, and scalable operating systems.

Own delivery from technical discovery and architecture through implementation, production deployment, user enablement, KPI measurement, incident response, and continuous optimization.

Architected and deployed a members platform with custom WebRTC video, React/Vite, Express, Socket.IO, Mediasoup, PostgreSQL, Redis, authentication, permissions, member products, payment integration, content libraries, and host/moderation controls.

Built customer acquisition and revenue infrastructure spanning CRM architecture, lead routing, attribution, referral management, seller and agent funnels, inventory systems, payments, communication workflows, and sales-team reporting.

Developed AI-assisted workflows using Claude, OpenAI/Codex, Hermes Agent, RAG, structured outputs, skills, sub-agents, model routing, Retell AI, and ElevenLabs, with human approval for consequential actions.

Designed multi-platform integrations across CRMs, databases, APIs, webhooks, telephony, payments, and marketing platforms; implemented create/update logic, payload validation, quarantine/retry paths, monitoring, and operational alerts.

Serve as a technical and operational advisor to ownership while coordinating developers, sales teams, marketers, and operators around measurable business outcomes.

Technical discovery to deployment Applied AI systems Cross-functional delivery
2018–2025 · Arizona to Nationwide

Nationwide Real Estate Investment Company

Founder & Systems Operator

Founded and scaled a lean investment and wholesale operation that completed 550+ transactions across 28+ states and achieved consecutive year-over-year record growth.

Built the operational backbone across acquisitions, dispositions, transaction coordination, marketing, sales management, reporting, and creative transaction structures.

Designed CRM architecture, role-level automation, follow-up systems, KPI dashboards, lead pipelines, and standardized workflows that increased the output of a small distributed team.

Managed high-volume lead and transaction data, tens of thousands of records, API/webhook integrations, production incidents, system migrations, access controls, and security-sensitive workflows.

Converted internally proven systems into repeatable frameworks later deployed for consulting clients.

550+ transactions 28+ states Consecutive record growth Role-level automation
2018 · Real Estate Startup

Technology, Marketing & Systems Partner

Minority Owner

Helped scale the company to approximately $800K in revenue within six months by owning technical systems, marketing infrastructure, lead generation, automation, and client-facing applications.

Contributed across frontend and backend delivery, CRM and database architecture, APIs, sales systems, campaign execution, and operational reporting.

Exited through a partner buyout to pursue a new venture.

~$800K revenue in six months Marketing infrastructure CRM & database architecture
Approx. 2016–2018 · Google/Waymo Program

Autonomous Vehicle Software Test Operator

Contractor · Safety-Critical Field Testing

Tested newly deployed autonomous-vehicle software in real-world conditions and evaluated system behavior, functionality, and unexpected performance.

Documented and reported issues to development teams, supporting the feedback loop between field testing and engineering in a safety-critical environment.

Applied structured testing procedures, detailed observation, and clear technical communication under tightly controlled operating requirements.

Autonomous systems testing Issue reporting Engineering feedback loops
2008–2018

Boutique Software & Web Development Agency

Founding Partner

Co-founded and operated a development firm delivering marketing sites, custom CRMs, booking platforms, internal tools, and operational software for small businesses and larger organizations.

Led client discovery, requirements gathering, system design, frontend/backend delivery, integrations, testing, technical support, and account relationships.

Managed local and remote contributors and sold the ownership interest after a successful ten-year run.

10-year run Custom software delivery Ownership interest sold

Technical Environment

Selected Technical Environment
01 · DATA

Languages & Data

JavaScript TypeScript Python SQL PostgreSQL Supabase Neon
02 · APPLICATIONS

Applications & Integration

React Vite Express REST APIs Webhooks Custom SDKs WebRTC Socket.IO Mediasoup OAuth
03 · AI SYSTEMS

AI Systems

Claude Claude Code OpenAI Codex Hermes Agent RAG Structured outputs Tool calling Model routing Agent skills Sub-agents Evaluations MCP workflows
04 · VOICE & MEDIA

Voice & Media

Retell AI ElevenLabs Self-hosted image/video generation
05 · INFRASTRUCTURE

Infrastructure & Operations

Docker Cloudflare Vercel Replit Dedicated servers VPS Git/GitHub Monitoring Incident response Migrations Rollbacks Encryption
06 · WORKING FAMILIARITY

Working Familiarity

AWS services Kubernetes deployment concepts Terraform infrastructure-as-code workflows
07 · BUSINESS SYSTEMS

Business Systems

Salesforce GoHighLevel Follow Up Boss Podio Monday.com n8n Make Zapier Stripe Spiffy

Selected Scale & Impact

150+ Systems · 1,000+ Transactions
01 · DEPLOYMENT

150+

Applications, websites, and operational systems deployed.

02 · USERS

Thousands of registered users

Hundreds of concurrent users supported.

03 · DATA

Tens of thousands

Database records and leads processed.

04 · TRANSACTIONS

1,000+ transactions

Supported across owned and client operating environments.

05 · TEAMS

Technical and operational teams of up to 12

Managed across local and remote environments.