The short answer
The FDE title hides three different technical centers of gravity.
In this posting-level sample, integration and deployment work was the most common dominant type. AI application work formed a substantial second group, while roles dominated by lower-level platform or infrastructure concerns were much rarer. More than one-third of postings were strong hybrids.
The important distinction: 94% of these postings mentioned AI or ML, but only 34% were primarily AI-application roles. AI is increasingly part of the environment in which FDEs work; its presence alone does not tell you where the interview will go deepest.
Primary role type
The dominant technical depth in each posting. Hybrid signals are counted separately below.
Integration and deployment-heavy
63 of 100 postings
63%
AI application and agent-heavy
34 of 100 postings
34%
Platform and infrastructure-heavy
3 of 100 postings
3%
38% were hybrids. These postings had a second category with substantial evidence rather than fitting cleanly into one box.
What employers explicitly mention
The recurring signals across 100 JDs
These counts mean the description explicitly contained the signal—not that the remaining roles never require it.
94%
AI or ML
94 postings
80%
Python
80 postings
74%
TypeScript or JavaScript
74 postings
67%
production ownership
67 postings
57%
customer-facing
57 postings
57%
security
57 postings
53%
cloud
53 postings
31%
travel
31 postings
19%
sales or pre-sales
19 postings
AI application and agent-heavy
LLMs, agents, retrieval, evals, prompts, tool use, and model safeguards dominate the technical discussion.
Integration and deployment-heavy
APIs, authentication, workflows, prototypes, enterprise systems, and implementation details dominate.
Platform and infrastructure-heavy
Infrastructure, distributed systems, inference serving, latency, Kubernetes, GPUs, or reliability dominate.
How to interpret the numbers
This is a posting sample, not employer market share. The largest employer in the sample, Atlassian, contributed 23 postings. Location- and level-specific openings may share most of their JD.
The 100 postings represent 89 unique description fingerprints and 50 normalized company-role families. We report all three numbers so duplicated hiring campaigns are visible.
Classification describes where each JD appears to go deepest. It does not claim that a role performs only one kind of work.
Reproducible sample
All 100 source postings
Captured September 4, 2026. Links may expire as employers close roles.
| Company and role | Primary type | Hybrid signal | Posted |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Zencargo Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-08-27 |
2. Encore AI Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)Israel | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2026-08-20 |
3. IFS Forward Deployed Engineer - Scheduling and OptimisationEngland, United Kingdom | AI / application | — | 2026-08-14 |
4. Smalt Forward Deployed Engineer (m/f/d)Berlin, Berlin, Germany | AI / application | — | 2026-08-14 |
5. MongoDB Lead Forward Deployed EngineerNew York City, New York, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-08-12 |
6. LegalAndGeneral Forward Deployed Engineer (Java, Typescript & Azure)England, United Kingdom | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-08-11 |
7. CoreWeave Forward Deployed Engineer, AI AgentsSan Francisco, California, United States | AI / application | — | 2026-08-07 |
8. Applied Intuition Senior Forward Deployed Engineer - DefenseArlington, Virginia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-08-07 |
9. OMMAX Forward Deployed AI Engineer (m/f/d)Germany | AI / application | — | 2026-08-07 |
10. Balance Forward Deployed EngineerNew York, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-08-06 |
11. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer/Solution Architect - Clearance RequiredWashington, District of Columbia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-05-14 |
12. JLL Forward Deployed EngineerSan Francisco, California, United States | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2026-07-20 |
13. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - Clearance RequiredTacoma, Washington, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-07-23 |
14. JLL Staff Forward Deployed EngineerWestmont, California, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-07-22 |
15. Oracle Senior Principal Forward Deployed EngineerTelangana, India | AI / application | Platform / infrastructure | 2026-07-19 |
16. Publicis Groupe Forward Deployed EngineerMelbourne, Victoria, Australia | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2026-06-18 |
17. GPL Technologies Forward Deployed EngineerLos Angeles, California, United States | Platform / infrastructure | — | 2026-07-19 |
18. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - Clearance RequiredColorado Springs, Colorado, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-05-14 |
19. Fractal Architect, Forward Deployed Engineer (Cogentiq)New York, United States | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2026-07-15 |
20. Fractal Lead Architect, Forward Deployed Engineer (Cogentiq)New York, United States | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2026-07-15 |
21. Salesforce Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - Public Sector, Nonprofit & EducationRemote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2026-07-15 |
22. HHM Talent Forward Deployed EngineerNew York, United States | AI / application | — | 2026-07-12 |
23. Kinaxis Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-06-07 |
24. Arkhn Founding Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)Paris, Île-de-France, France | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-06-09 |
25. サイバーエージェントグループ 【AI Shift】Forward Deployed Engineer 東京勤務 | 顧客の業務に入り込みAI実装までをリードJapan | AI / application | — | 2026-07-01 |
26. サイバーエージェントグループ 【AI Shift】Forward Deployed Engineer 大阪勤務 | 顧客の業務に入り込みAI実装までをリードJapan | AI / application | — | 2026-07-01 |
27. Auxis- US Forward Deployed EngineerBogotá, Bogota D.C., Colombia | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2026-06-11 |
28. Huron Consulting Services Digital - Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) - Intelligent Automation - Associate AssociateChicago, Illinois, United States | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2026-07-01 |
29. Polynom Forward Deployed AI EngineerRueil-Malmaison, Île-de-France, France | AI / application | — | 2026-06-29 |
30. Salesforce Forward Deployed Engineer (All Levels)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2026-06-25 |
31. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - Clearance RequiredHonolulu, Hawaii, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-06-23 |
32. hallo theo Forward Deployed Engineer (f/m/d)Berlin, Berlin, Germany | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-06-05 |
33. Global Tech Collective Forward Deployed EngineerUnited Kingdom | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-06-01 |
34. Dirbato Forward Deployed Engineer（FDE）-AI活用戦略～定着までリードJapan | AI / application | — | 2026-05-07 |
35. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - Clearance RequiredFort Bragg, California, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-05-17 |
36. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - TS/SCI with Polygraph RequiredMcLean, Virginia, United States | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2026-05-14 |
37. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer/Solution Architect - Clearance RequiredWashington, District of Columbia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-05-14 |
38. Quanta Services Lead Forward Deployed EngineerHouston, Texas, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-05-13 |
39. LMI Forward Deployed EngineerWashington, District of Columbia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-05-03 |
40. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - Clearance RequiredColorado Springs, Colorado, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-05-06 |
41. Dirbato Forward Deployed Engineer（FDE）-AI活用戦略～定着までリードTokyo, Japan | AI / application | — | 2026-05-07 |
42. ナインアウト Forward Deployed Engineer（FDE）Tokyo, Japan | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-05-11 |
43. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - Clearance RequiredWashington, District of Columbia, United States | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2026-05-06 |
44. Vista Equity Partners Management Senior Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | AI / application | Platform / infrastructure | 2026-04-28 |
45. サイバーエージェントグループ 【AI Shift】Forward Deployed Engineer 顧客の業務に入り込みAI実装までをリードTokyo, Japan | AI / application | — | 2025-12-07 |
46. Quanta Services Forward Deployed EngineerRoseville, California, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-03-24 |
47. Quanta Services Forward Deployed EngineerPhoenix, Arizona, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-03-24 |
48. Quanta Services Forward Deployed EngineerDraper, Utah, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-03-24 |
49. Cayuse Holdings Sr Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2026-03-14 |
50. サイバーエージェントグループ 【AI Shift | 大阪チーム立ち上げ】顧客の業務に入り込みAI実装まで行う Forward Deployed EngineerOsaka, Osaka, Japan | AI / application | — | 2026-03-16 |
51. Cayuse Holdings Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | Integration / deployment | Platform / infrastructure | 2026-03-14 |
52. Data Direct Networks Forward Deployed Engineer (AI & HPC Infrastructure)Remote | Platform / infrastructure | — | 2025-09-21 |
53. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - Clearance RequiredWashington, District of Columbia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-02-10 |
54. ジーニー 【JAPAN AI】Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)Tokyo, Japan | AI / application | — | 2025-10-13 |
55. LMI Forward Deployed EngineerColorado Springs, Colorado, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-02-01 |
56. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - TS/SCI Clearance RequiredArlington, Virginia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-01-25 |
57. ジーニー 【JAPAN AI】Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)Tokyo, Japan | AI / application | — | 2025-09-29 |
58. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2026-01-11 |
59. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2026-01-11 |
60. LMI Forward Deployed EngineerWashington, District of Columbia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2026-01-11 |
61. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | AI / application | — | 2026-01-06 |
62. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-11-29 |
63. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-11-29 |
64. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-12-30 |
65. UDG Ludwigsburg Forward Deployed AI Engineer (all genders)Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2025-12-17 |
66. UDG Ludwigsburg Forward Deployed Engineer (all genders)Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-12-17 |
67. UDG Ludwigsburg Forward Deployed AI Engineer (all genders)Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2025-12-17 |
68. LMI Forward Deployed AI Engineer - Clearance RequiredArlington, Virginia, United States | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-12-01 |
69. LMI Senior Forward Deployed Software Engineer - Clearance RequiredArlington, Virginia, United States | Platform / infrastructure | — | 2025-12-07 |
70. UDG Ludwigsburg Forward Deployed Engineer (all genders)Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-12-17 |
71. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-12-10 |
72. hallo theo Forward Deployed Engineer (f/m/d)Berlin, Berlin, Germany | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-11-28 |
73. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-12-01 |
74. RevComm Forward Deployed EngineerTokyo, Japan | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2025-11-19 |
75. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - Clearance RequiredWashington, District of Columbia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-11-09 |
76. ブリングアウト 【AI-Driven】Forward Deployed Engineer（FDE）Japan | AI / application | Integration / deployment | 2025-11-07 |
77. LMI Forward Deployed Engineer - Clearance RequiredWashington, District of Columbia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-11-06 |
78. Quanta Services Forward Deployed EngineerHouston, Texas, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-11-03 |
79. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AIRemote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-29 |
80. hallo theo Forward Deployed Engineer (f/m/d)Remote | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-10-10 |
81. LMI Forward Deployed EngineerWashington, District of Columbia, United States | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-10-12 |
82. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-29 |
83. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-29 |
84. Atlassian Senior Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | AI / application | — | 2025-09-29 |
85. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-24 |
86. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-29 |
87. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-29 |
88. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-29 |
89. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-29 |
90. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-29 |
91. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, AI (Remote)Remote | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-29 |
92. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-09-29 |
93. Atlassian Senior Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-09-29 |
94. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-09-24 |
95. Atlassian Principal Forward Deployed EngineerRemote | Integration / deployment | — | 2025-09-22 |
96. LMI Forward Deployed AI Engineer - Clearance RequiredArlington, Virginia, United States | Integration / deployment | AI / application | 2025-09-15 |
97. LMI Forward Deployed Software Engineer - Clearance RequiredArlington, Virginia, United States | Integration / deployment | Platform / infrastructure | 2025-09-15 |
98. Aiタレントフォース エンジニア経験があればフォワードデプロイエンジニア（Forward Deployed Engineer、FDE）へキャリアチェンジ｜充実した研修サポート有！生成AI案件に伴走できる"技術支援型"Japan | AI / application | — | 2025-04-22 |
99. Aiタレントフォース 生成AI領域の中核を担うフォワードデプロイエンジニア（Forward Deployed Engineer、FDE）へ｜プロダクトマネージャーの経験があればFDEにキャリアチェンジJapan | AI / application | — | 2025-07-09 |
100. Aiタレントフォース Webアプリケーション開発経験があればフォワードデプロイエンジニア（Forward Deployed Engineer、FDE）へキャリアチェンジ｜クライアントの生成AI開発を支えるJapan | AI / application | — | 2025-04-22 |
What this means for interview preparation
Do not prepare for “an FDE interview” in the abstract. Read the JD for its dominant technical center, then weight coding, AI systems, integrations, or infrastructure accordingly.
Read the three-type interview guide →Methodology
Inclusion: Active individual-contributor postings whose title explicitly contains Forward Deployed and Engineer.
Exclusions: Management titles, expired listings, recruiter-attributed listings, descriptions under 150 words, descriptions with no classifiable technical signal, and failed structured-data validation.
Sampling: The 100 most recent qualifying postings in the source feed. Multiple location- or level-specific postings from one employer may remain and are reported separately from unique description fingerprints and normalized role families.
Classification: A deterministic, disclosed keyword-evidence rubric assigns the dominant technical depth. Confidence reflects the gap between the two highest category scores; close scores are also reported as hybrid signals.
Copyright: Only derived signals, metadata, hashes, and source links are stored; full job-description text is not republished.