Forward Deployed Engineer Intern

About Nsembe

Nsembe Technologies builds technology infrastructure that helps institutions turn fragmented operational data into real-time decision systems.

We work across areas including education, finance, business operations and public-sector infrastructure, often in environments where connectivity, resources and existing systems are limited.

We are looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer Intern to join us remotely and work directly at the intersection of technology, customers and business development.

The role

This is not a traditional software engineering internship.

You will help us take technology into the field: understanding how organisations work, demonstrating Nsembe products, onboarding users, solving technical problems and feeding customer needs back into product development.

You will spend part of your time building and configuring technology, and part of your time talking to customers and helping us grow.

What you will do

Technical

• Configure, deploy and support Nsembe products at customer organisations.
• Troubleshoot software, data and connectivity issues.
• Help customise systems to fit real operational workflows.
• Work with databases, APIs and web applications.
• Assist with testing, documentation and product improvements.
• Build small tools, automations and integrations where needed.
• Help deploy systems in environments with limited or unreliable connectivity.

Customer & sales

• Demonstrate Nsembe products to prospective customers.
• Conduct customer discovery and understand operational problems.
• Assist with onboarding and training users.
• Follow up with prospects and existing customers.
• Prepare demonstrations, proposals and technical documentation.
• Identify opportunities where Nsembe technology can solve a real business problem.
• Gather customer feedback and translate it into actionable product requirements.

Field deployment

• Work directly with schools, businesses and other institutions remotely and, where required, through occasional field visits.
• Observe how organisations actually operate rather than relying only on written requirements.
• Help customers move from paper/manual processes to digital systems.
• Become the technical point of contact during deployments.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for someone who is curious, technically capable and comfortable talking to people. You may be studying or recently graduated in:

• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Information Systems
• ICT
• Data Science
• Economics/Business with strong technical skills
• A related field

More important than your degree is your ability to figure things out and get things done.

You should have

• Basic programming/software development skills.
• Familiarity with web technologies, databases or APIs.
• Strong problem-solving ability.
• Good communication skills.
• Confidence speaking with customers and explaining technology simply.
• Interest in business development and sales.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
• Willingness to learn unfamiliar technologies quickly.

Nice to have

Experience with any of the following:

• JavaScript/TypeScript
• React or Next.js
• Python
• SQL/PostgreSQL
• Git/GitHub
• Linux
• APIs and integrations
• Data analysis
• Cloud deployment
• Offline-first systems
• AI/automation

What success looks like

Within the internship, you should be able to: Understand → Demonstrate → Deploy → Support → Improve → Sell.

You will learn how a technology company goes beyond writing software: from identifying a customer's problem, to building a solution, deploying it, getting users to adopt it and ultimately turning that solution into revenue.

What you will gain

• Real-world software deployment experience.
• Direct exposure to customers and institutional technology projects.
• Experience in technical sales and business development.
• Exposure to product management and customer discovery.
• Experience working in a startup environment.
• Opportunity to contribute to products that are actually being used by organisations.

Working arrangement

• Location: Remote, Zambia
• Engagement: Internship
• Duration: 3–6 months
• Work arrangement: Remote-first, with occasional field/customer engagements where required.

This is a hands-on role. You will not simply be assigned tutorials or internal coding exercises. You will work on real customers, real deployments and real business problems.