Key Responsibilities
The Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) is a hands-on technical role embedded closely with business teams to rapidly build and adapt solutions that address real operational needs. Acting as a hybrid between engineer and consultant, the FDE translates business requirements into prototypes and production-ready tools, ensuring fast iteration and impact. Unlike traditional engineers, FDEs work “close to the field”, understanding workflows deeply, implementing features quickly, and iterating based on direct user feedback.
1. Rapid Solution Development
- Build, adapt, and deploy internal tools and features that directly support operational teams.
- Deliver lightweight integrations, automations, or prototypes to test and validate business needs.
- Ensure solutions are functional, reliable, and usable, even if not yet enterprise-hardened.
2. Embedded Collaboration
- Work side-by-side with business teams to understand pain points and translate them into technical solutions.
- Act as a bridge between end-users and engineering, gathering feedback and iterating quickly.
- Support proof-of-concepts before handing them over to core engineering for scaling.
3. Technical Versatility
- Implement across the stack (frontend, backend, APIs, scripts, dashboards, automations).
- Leverage low-code/no-code platforms where speed matters, and custom code where flexibility is needed.
- Ensure maintainability while prioritizing speed and business impact.
4. Continuous Feedback & Handover
- Collect business feedback on tools and iterate until workflows stabilize.
- When needed, hand over stabilized solutions to engineering for long-term scaling and integration.