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Forward Deployment Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Forward Deployed Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

Debug and resolve production issues in customer deployments * Develop best practices, documentation ... Forward Deployment Engineer or similar customer-facing technical roles at Palantir, Accenture, or ...

Build the Path Forward At Path Robotics, we're building the future of embodied intelligence. Our AI ... Our Deployment Engineers work to seamlessly integrate our robots, sensors, and software into a ...

Build the Path Forward At Path Robotics, we're building the future of embodied intelligence. Our AI ... Our Deployment Engineers work to seamlessly integrate our robots, sensors, and software into a ...

... field forward. If you like to build, tinker, and create with a team of trusted and passionate ... As a Deployment Engineer , you are the technical architect of a live customer site. You move beyond ...

... field forward. If you like to build, tinker, and create with a team of trusted and passionate ... As a Deployment Engineer , you are the technical architect of a live customer site. You move beyond ...

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Forward Deployment Engineer information

See salary details

$35.5K

$109.6K

$170K

How much do forward deployment engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for forward deployment engineer in the United States is $109,561.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,500.00 and $138,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Forward Deployment Engineer typically collaborate with clients and internal teams during a project?

Forward Deployment Engineers often serve as a bridge between clients and internal engineering or product teams. They work closely with clients to understand their unique requirements, configure solutions, and ensure successful deployments, frequently traveling to client sites. Internally, they collaborate with engineers, product managers, and support staff to relay client feedback, troubleshoot issues, and optimize system performance. This role requires excellent communication skills and adaptability, as each project may involve different stakeholders and technical challenges.

What is the difference between Forward Deployment Engineer vs Network Engineer?

AspectForward Deployment EngineerNetwork Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS, EE, or related; certifications like CCNA, Cisco, or cloud certificationsBachelor's in CS, EE, or related; certifications like CCNA, CompTIA Network+
Work EnvironmentOn-site deployments, fieldwork, client sites, and data centersOffice-based, network infrastructure setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting
Industry UsageTech, telecom, cloud providers, hardware vendorsIT, telecom, enterprise networks, service providers

While both roles require networking knowledge and certifications like CCNA, Forward Deployment Engineers focus on deploying and supporting hardware and systems directly at client sites, often involving fieldwork. Network Engineers primarily design, implement, and maintain network infrastructure within organizations. The roles overlap in certifications and industry usage but differ in work environment and deployment focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Forward Deployment Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Forward Deployment Engineer, you need strong analytical and problem-solving skills, a solid foundation in computer science or engineering, and relevant experience or a degree in these fields. Familiarity with programming languages (such as Python or Java), cloud platforms, and deployment/configuration management tools is typically required, along with knowledge of client-facing software solutions. Outstanding communication, adaptability, and teamwork skills help you understand client needs and collaborate effectively across teams. These skills ensure successful implementation and integration of complex software solutions in diverse client environments.

What are Forward Deployment Engineers?

Forward Deployment Engineers (FDEs) are technical professionals who work directly with clients to implement, customize, and deploy software solutions. They act as a bridge between engineering teams and customers, ensuring that products are successfully integrated into the client's environment and tailored to meet their specific needs. FDEs typically handle a mix of software engineering, problem-solving, and client-facing responsibilities, often traveling to customer sites to provide on-the-ground support. Their role is essential for organizations that offer complex technical products requiring hands-on deployment and adaptation.
More about Forward Deployment Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Forward Deployment Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Forward Deployment Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Forward Deployment Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Forward Deployment Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Forward Deployment Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,561 per year, or $52.7 per hour.

$120K - $150K/yr

Other

Posted yesterday


Key responsibilities

  • Embed with clients to discover operational pain points, map workflows, and identify high-ROI opportunities for AI and automation.

  • Design, build, and deploy AI agents and AI-powered workflows that integrate with clients' existing systems.

  • Own the full delivery lifecycle from scoping and architecture to build, testing, handoff, and documentation.


Job description

Forward Deployment AI Engineer

Atlas, a Lyra Tech Group portfolio company, is looking for a Forward Deployment AI Engineer. The FDE will embed with our clients' businesses - rolling up your sleeves to design, build, and deploy AI-powered solutions that create real operational impact. You won't be sitting behind a desk writing specs; you'll be on-site at small and mid-size businesses diagnosing inefficiencies, earning stakeholder trust, and shipping production-grade AI agents, automated workflows, and engineering solutions that change how these organizations run.

This is a hands-on, client-facing engineering role built for someone who is as comfortable presenting to a small business owner as they are writing Python.

Your work as a Forward Deployment AI Engineer will include several components: 

  • Embed directly with clients to discover operational pain points, map workflows, and identify high-ROI opportunities for AI and automation
  • Design and build AI agents using frameworks such as LangChain, LangGraph, AutoGen, or similar - including tool-use, memory, and multi-agent orchestration patterns
  • Develop AI-powered workflows that integrate with clients' existing systems (CRMs, ERPs, cloud platforms, communication tools, etc.)
  • Engineer automation solutions across areas such as document processing, data extraction, reporting, customer communication, and internal operations
  • Own the full delivery lifecycle - from scoping and architecture to build, testing, handoff, and lightweight documentation
  • Train and enable client teams to maintain and iterate on solutions post-deployment
  • Serve as a trusted technical advisor, translating complex AI capabilities into clear business value for non-technical stakeholders
  • Contribute internally by codifying reusable components, playbooks, and delivery templates that scale across the practice

  Our ideal Forward Deployment AI Engineer has the following qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical field
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future
  • 2+ years of professional experience in software engineering, AI/ML engineering, or a technical consulting role
  • Working proficiency in Python and familiarity with REST APIs and cloud services
  • Hands-on experience building with LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, or similar)
  • Understanding of prompt engineering, RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), and agentic workflow patterns
  • Ability to work independently in ambiguous, fast-moving client environments
  • Strong communication skills - you can explain a vector database to a CFO without losing them
  • Willingness to travel regularly to client sites in the Tampa area (estimated up to 50%)

Preferred

  • Experience with workflow automation platforms (Zapier, Make, n8n, or similar)
  • Familiarity with vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, Chroma) and embedding pipelines
  • Exposure to low-code/no-code tools alongside custom-code solutions
  • Prior client-facing, consulting, or forward-deployed engineering experience
  • Experience working with SMB clients
  • Experience in construction, professional services, nonprofits and/or healthcare is a plus

Who Thrives in This Role
You're a builder who gets energy from solving real problems for real people. You're not waiting for perfect requirements - you ask good questions, form a hypothesis, and get something in front of stakeholders fast. You're comfortable being the most technical person in the room for one hour and a junior learner the next. You care about the outcome, not just the code.

The targeted base salary for this role is $120,000 - $150,000 depending on experience and will operate out of the Atlas office(s) on a hybrid basis.

Lyra Tech Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diverse perspectives and are committed to building an inclusive team.