Forward Deployed Design Lead — Product Lifecycle Management

The posting, as Avathon wrote it

Who We Are & Why Join Us

Avathon is the leading Industrial AI autonomy platform, helping customers across heavy industries -- energy, mining, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and logistics -- accelerate the journey toward autonomous operations. Our platform is built on a Computational Knowledge Graph foundation that contextualizes and connects operational data across siloed systems, bringing together time series, structured, unstructured, and machine vision data to power AI-driven applications in asset performance management, supply chain intelligence, visual AI, and global trade management. With capabilities spanning digital twins, normal behavior modeling, natural language processing, and computer vision, Avathon delivers real-time predictive intelligence and agentic decision-making at industrial scale.

Cutting-Edge AI Innovation -- Join a team at the forefront of AI, developing groundbreaking solutions that shape the future. High-Growth Environment -- Thrive in a fast-scaling startup where agility, collaboration, and rapid professional growth are the norm. Meaningful Impact -- Work on AI-driven projects that drive real change across industries and improve lives.

Learn more at: avathon.com

About Avathon

Avathon is the leading Industrial AI autonomy platform, helping customers across heavy industries — energy, mining, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and logistics — accelerate the journey toward autonomous operations. Our platform is built on a Computational Knowledge Graph foundation that contextualizes and connects operational data across siloed systems, bringing together time series, structured, unstructured, and machine vision data to power AI-driven applications in asset performance management, supply chain intelligence, visual AI, and global trade management.

With capabilities spanning digital twins, normal behavior modeling, natural language processing, and computer vision, Avathon delivers real-time predictive intelligence and agentic decision-making at industrial scale.

About the Role

The Forward Deployed Design Lead — PLM is embedded directly at customer sites as the primary experience and implementation owner for Avathon's Product Lifecycle Management deployments. You live at the intersection of PLM domain knowledge and experience design, responsible for configuring, implementing, and continuously improving how engineering teams, manufacturing planners, and quality engineers interact with Avathon's AI layer across their PLM environment.

You will spend Monday through Thursday working alongside CAD engineers, PLM administrators, and manufacturing process owners — mapping BOM workflows, configuring integrations with PLM and ERP systems, designing the screens and workflows users will rely on daily, and driving adoption from go-live through steady-state operations. Fridays are typically remote for synthesis, documentation, and cross-team collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

PLM Implementation & Configuration

• Own end-t

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or defense environments — including hands-on working sessions

• Familiarity with digital thread concepts — understanding how product data flows from engineering design through manufacturing, quality, maintenance, and end-of-life
• Experience with MBSE methodologies ( SysML , Cameo, Rhapsody) is a plus, particularly for aerospace and defense engagements
• Comfort with agile delivery rhythms: sprint planning, backlog grooming, and iterating rapidly based on user feedback in live client environments
• Excellent written communication — able to produce configuration documentation, integration specs, and training guides that engineering teams with varying technical backgrounds can follow independently

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering , Computer Science, Industrial Design, or a related technical field
• Experience working in or closely with industrial engineering environments — manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, energy, or defense — is highly valued
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 80%; based in Pleasanton, CA or Austin, TX
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future company sponsorship

Compensation & Benefits

• California Base Salary: $170,000 - $200,000
• Equity in the form of stock options
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) participation
• Generous PTO and company holidays
• All travel expenses covered per Avathon policy

Avathon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Avathon is committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruiting process. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact us to discuss how we can assist you.