Forward deployed engineers
Forward deployed engineers
Forward deployed engineers are software engineers who work inside a customer team to get one system into real use. Tell us the system you need built. We send you a shortlist of people who fit, and you choose.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
The role
What forward deployed engineers do
A forward deployed engineer writes production code inside one organisation. They sit with the people who own a problem. They learn the workflow, the data and the systems. Then they build the fix and stay until people rely on it.
Palantir made the role a standard job. OpenAI, Anthropic and Google now hire forward deployed engineers too.
Most companies do not need a whole team of them. They need one engineer who can work with their people and get one real system live.
Hiring one through Fractionals
You send a requirement using the form. It is free, and there is no deposit. We read every requirement ourselves. If something is unclear, we ask.
We look through the senior engineers who have applied to us, and our own contacts, for people who fit. We send a shortlist: each person's CV and a short note on why they fit. You talk to whoever you like and choose. You do not have to hire anyone.
You pay only when someone starts. You get one agreement and one invoice from us, on terms agreed in writing before anything starts.
Tell us the role and the hours. We send you a shortlist of people who fit.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
For companies
Hire and compare
Pages for companies that need a forward deployed engineer.
- Hire a forward deployed engineer How it works with us, what to look for and the form.
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Use cases The systems companies bring one in to build: agents, LLM features, data pipelines and more. -
Industries How the work looks in finance, health, government, logistics and other sectors. - Locations Hiring by city and region, on site or remote.
- Companies How the companies known for the role run it.
- Forward deployed engineer vs consultant A consultant advises. A forward deployed engineer builds.
- FDE vs solutions architect Both work with customers. Only one owns the code in production.
For engineers
Learn the role
What the job is, what it pays and how to get it.
- What is a forward deployed engineer The role, where it came from and what the work involves.
- Salary Posted pay by company and level, with a source for every figure.
- Interview questions How the interview works and a bank of practice questions.
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Job description Duties, skills and requirements from real job posts, plus a template. - Roadmap The skills in order, with one real project for each stage.
- Jobs Roles at other companies, linked to each company's own posting.
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Guides Careers, interviews, tools and how teams are set up.
On site, remote or both
Your engineer can work at your office, work remotely or split the week. Say which in your requirement.
Companies that hire forward deployed engineers
None of these companies are clients of ours.
Tell us what you need.
Send your requirement. We send you a shortlist of senior leaders who fit. One agreement and one invoice, with the terms agreed in writing before anything starts.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
Send your requirement
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
Apply to join
Talent never pays to apply, be shortlisted or be placed.
FAQ
Forward deployed engineer questions
What is a forward deployed engineer in simple terms?
A software engineer who works with one customer at a time, often at their site, to make a product work for that customer. They write production code, connect it to the customer's data and systems, and tell their own product team what they learn.
Do forward deployed engineers write code?
Yes. The job posts we read at Palantir, OpenAI and Salesforce all ask for strong production coding. The customer work comes on top of the engineering. It does not replace it.
Is a forward deployed engineer the same as a solutions architect?
No. A solutions architect mostly advises and designs. A forward deployed engineer builds and ships. Our comparison page sets out the difference.
Can I hire a forward deployed engineer for part of the week?
Yes. Tell us how much of the week the work needs. We send a shortlist of people who fit, and you choose.
Do you ask for a deposit?
No. Sending a requirement is free. You pay only when someone starts, and the hiring company pays our fee.
I am a forward deployed engineer. Can I apply?
Yes. Apply once with your CV. An automated screen helps us sort applications, then we look at each one ourselves. Talent never pays.
Explore more
- How it works
What happens after you send your requirement, step by step.
- Fees
No deposit. One agreement and one invoice when someone starts.
- What is fractional
Senior leaders for part of the week, and when that makes sense.
- Locations
Talent based across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
How it works
What is fractional
Locations