Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)

We are seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to report to our Field CTO within the Engineering organization. This role is a highly strategic and tactical, customer-facing position responsible for partnering with enterprise clients across the entire customer lifecycle—from pre-sales discovery and solution architecture through post-sales adoption, retention, expansion, and long-term success.

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you will act as both a principal-level technical leader and a trusted customer advocate, ensuring our platform delivers measurable business value while shaping the future direction of our product. You will work closely with Sales & Field Engineering, Product, and Technical Account Management teams to architect and deliver complex, real-time data solutions across modern cloud and AI-driven ecosystems. This is a hands-on, deeply technical role requiring active participation in solution architecture, development, and deployment within customer environments.

This role requires up to 50% travel and a strong commitment to building deep, long-lasting customer relationships through consistent engagement. You will serve as the connective tissue between customer needs and product innovation, translating real-world challenges into scalable technical solutions and product enhancements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical partner to customers across the full lifecycle, from pre-sales discovery and solution architecture through post-sales adoption, expansion, and renewal.
• Build and maintain trusted, long-term relationships with customer stakeholders through ongoing engagement, including on-site meetings and industry events.
• Act as the technical point of escalation for customer challenges, ensuring timely resolution and continued success.
• Partner with Sales and Field Engineering to design and architect complex, enterprise-grade solutions tailored to customer needs.
• Lead the implementation of custom solutions within customer environments across multi-cloud and hybrid architectures.
• Build prototypes, integrations, and production-grade systems using APIs, data pipelines, and modern frameworks.
• Debug and resolve complex technical issues across distributed systems, including backend, infrastructure, and data layers.
• Optimize solutions for performance, scalability, and reliability in production environments.
• Act as the voice of the customer, capturing insights and translating them into clear, actionable product requirements.
• Collaborate with Product and Engineering teams to influence roadmap priorities and future feature development.
• Translate business needs into highly technical concepts, bridging communication between customers and internal teams.
• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Field Engineering, Product, and Technical Account Management to deliver a seamless and unified customer experience.
• Contribute to internal best practices, reusable assets, and scalable solution frameworks to extend impact across customers.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in a customer-facing technical role (e.g., Solutions Engineer, Solutions Architect, Forward Deployed Engineer, Field Engineer, Cloud Architect).
• Proven ability to own and deliver across the full customer lifecycle, from pre-sales through post-sales success.
• Deep technical expertise with the ability to operate at a senior or principal level, including solution architecture and hands-on implementation.
• Strong programming experience (e.g., Python or similar) and experience building production-grade systems.
• Experience with multi-cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure) and modern data ecosystems.
• Expertise in areas such as:
  • Real-time data streaming and data pipelines (e.g. CDC)
  • Data warehousing and modernization
  • Kubernetes and distributed systems
  • APIs and enterprise integrations
  • AI/ML frameworks and analytics platforms (e.g., Databricks, Snowflake)
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to:
  • Translate complex technical concepts into business value for customers
  • Convert business needs into clear technical requirements for product teams
• Strong problem-solving skills and comfort operating in ambiguous, high-impact environments.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience working in a high-growth or startup environment.
• Prior experience influencing product roadmaps based on direct customer engagement.
• Background in data modernization, cloud adoption, and AI enablement platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to build executive-level relationships with customer stakeholders.
• Experience creating reusable frameworks, accelerators, or solution templates.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).

Benefits

• Competitive salary and pre-IPO stock options
• Comprehensive health care plans (medical, dental and vision), including medical and dependent FSA
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• The chance to contribute to and shape an upbeat, fully engaged culture

Compensation

$205,000 - $220,000 USD on an annualized basis. In addition to base pay, this role offers the opportunity to earn variable-based rewards.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.