Forward Deployed Engineer (New Graduate) at Leyton, Barcelona – Visa Sponsorship for US & Canada Graduates
Yes, a European employer is hiring new graduates and states clearly on its posting that visa sponsorship is available for graduates in the United States and Canada. Leyton, a global innovation funding and consulting firm, is recruiting a Forward Deployed Engineer (New Graduate) for Mainloop, its new AI-native engineering team in Barcelona, Spain. The role is full-time and permanent, with a base salary of €30,000 to €50,000 per year and an annual performance bonus of 10 to 20 percent.
This is not the usual junior role where you maintain old systems. You will travel to Leyton teams in different countries, sit with business teams, study how they work, and build AI-powered prototypes that solve their problems fast. When a solution works, it moves to the product engineering team, and you move to the next challenge.
The most important fact is the audience limit. The posting welcomes applications only from graduates across the US and Canada, and visa sponsorship is offered through Leyton Spain to selected candidates. International work authorization normally takes four to six months, so the posting is aimed at a January 2027 start date.
What Does a Forward Deployed Engineer Actually Do?
The title describes a simple idea. Instead of building software from a distance, you are “deployed forward” to where the problems are. You go into a business that runs on slow manual work, learn how it operates by sitting with the people who do it, and build something working fast enough to prove it is worth having. Then you hand it over and move to the next problem.
For a new graduate, this is rare. Most first jobs are about fixing bugs in code someone else wrote. Here you own a problem from the first conversation to a working prototype, and you present it directly to the people who will use it. That means you need more than coding skill. You must listen to non-technical people and explain your ideas in plain language.
Salary, Benefits, and Relocation Support
The package is stated clearly on the official page, which is a good sign. Here is the summary:
| Item | What the official page states |
|---|---|
| Base salary | €30,000–€50,000 per year |
| Performance bonus | 10–20% annually |
| Healthcare | Coverage from day one, no premium, deductible, or network restrictions |
| Holiday | 30 calendar days (22 working days) plus public holidays |
| Relocation | Flights to Barcelona, initial accommodation, visa and immigration support |
| Work travel | Leyton covers travel and accommodation costs |
Leyton also helps with Spanish administrative steps, including the NIE and TIE processes, relocation paperwork, and language learning, so you can focus on building technology.
Who Should Apply, and Who Should Not
You may be a strong fit if you are finishing or have recently finished a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, artificial intelligence, data science, information systems, or a related field. You should have built real software through internships, coursework, research, hackathons, or personal projects. Candidates who already hold a European passport or Spanish work authorization can also apply, but the sponsorship path is specifically described for US and Canada graduates.
Be honest with yourself about the travel. The posting says plainly: if international travel and working embedded with client teams does not appeal to you, this is not the right role. It is also not for people who want a purely remote job or a narrowly defined coding ticket queue.
Visa Sponsorship: Read This Part Carefully
The posting states “Visa Sponsorship Available.” Selected candidates will receive visa sponsorship through Leyton Spain, with support through the immigration process. This is employer-sponsored work authorization, not a self-applied visa.
Plan the timeline. Work authorization normally requires four to six months, which is why the target start is January 2027. If you need sponsorship, apply as early as you can and keep your passport valid.
What to Send in Your Application
The application list is short and specific: your résumé, your GitHub, portfolio, or personal project links, and a short note about the most technically challenging thing you have built. There is no long cover letter requirement.
Make the short note concrete. Name the project, say what it does in one sentence, describe the hardest technical problem you solved, and say what you would do differently now. Two or three sentences are enough if they are specific.
The hiring process has three stages: an introductory conversation with the engineering leadership team, a technical deep dive into something you have built, and a final conversation about fit with the Mainloop team. The posting describes the process as fast and respectful of your time.
FAQ
Q: Is visa sponsorship really available for this role?
A: Yes, for graduates in the United States and Canada. The official posting says “Visa Sponsorship Available,” and selected candidates receive sponsorship through Leyton Spain with support through the immigration process.
Q: What is the application deadline?
A: The official page names no closing date, so applications appear to be reviewed on a rolling basis. Because work authorization takes four to six months, apply early if you want the January 2027 start.
Q: Do I need professional experience to apply?
A: No. This is a new-graduate role. You need a relevant degree and proof that you have built software, such as internships, coursework, research, hackathons, or personal projects.
Q: What will I actually earn?
A: The official range is a base salary of €30,000 to €50,000 per year plus an annual performance bonus of 10 to 20 percent. The exact figure is not stated and will depend on your profile.
Is visa sponsorship really available for this role?
Yes, for graduates in the United States and Canada. The official posting says “Visa Sponsorship Available,” and selected candidates receive sponsorship through Leyton Spain with support through the immigration process.
What is the application deadline?
The official page names no closing date, so applications appear to be reviewed on a rolling basis. Because work authorization takes four to six months, apply early if you want the January 2027 start.
Do I need professional experience to apply?
No. This is a new-graduate role. You need a relevant degree and proof that you have built software, such as internships, coursework, research, hackathons, or personal projects.
What will I actually earn?
The official range is a base salary of €30,000 to €50,000 per year plus an annual performance bonus of 10 to 20 percent. The exact figure is not stated and will depend on your profile.
