FDE at startups vs big tech and AI labs
Candidate guide
A forward deployed engineer (FDE) builds software inside a customer's team. The same title means different jobs at a seed-stage startup, a frontier lab and a public company. Choosing FDE at startups vs big tech comes down to scope, pay and risk, which all shift with the company's stage.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
The pattern
Base pay climbs with company maturity
Base pay usually rises as a company matures, from seed stage to late-stage startups and public companies. The FDE salary guide has posted pay by company.
Base pay is only part of it. Startup equity can be worth a lot or nothing, so weigh it with care.
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
FDE at startups vs big tech, side by side
| Seed and early startup | Frontier AI lab | Big tech and public company | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Everything, often as the first FDE | Deep LLM deployments with strategic customers | Defined accounts and playbooks |
| Playbook | You write it | Being written now | Usually exists |
| Experience asked | Varies widely | Years of experience in the postings we read | Varies by level |
Choosing between a startup and a lab or big company
A startup fits if you
- Want the widest scope fast
- Can live with equity risk
- Like building the process, not following it
- Are comfortable owning frontend and backend
A lab or big company fits if you
- Want a known brand and steadier pay
- Prefer mentoring and peers who have done it before
- Want large, strategic customers
- Like a clearer path to management
The new middle: FDE units at cloud giants
The biggest software companies have now built dedicated FDE groups. AWS set up a Forward Deployed Engineering unit, and Microsoft set up Microsoft Frontier Co. These add another option: big-company stability with lab-style deployment work.
For engineers and leaders
Apply to join.
Apply once with your CV. We look at every application ourselves. Talent never pays.
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
Questions people ask
Do startups pay FDEs less?
Base pay, often yes. Total pay depends on equity, which is riskier at startups. The FDE salary guide has posted pay by company.
Is being the first FDE at a startup a good idea?
It is a fast way to learn and to shape a function, and a hard job without mentors. Ask who you report to and whether the company has paying customers waiting on deployments.
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
Fees
What is fractional