Forward Deployment Engineer / Forward Deployment Engineeress

Overview

We are entering a new era of AI-driven transformation — one defined by intelligent systems that move beyond copilots to autonomous, goal-driven agents embedded directly into real-world workflows. As a Forward Deployment Engineer, you will operate at the intersection of customers, cutting-edge AI technologies, and Microsoft’s product platforms, taking charge of delivering high-impact AI solutions from initial problem framing through production deployment and iteration.

This role is designed for engineers who aspire for end-to-end ownership of complex, real-world problems — where success is measured by customer outcomes and deployed impact, not just feature completion. If you've ever felt constrained by traditional engineering boundaries and wanted to tackle problems the way customers experience them, this is the opportunity for you.

Responsibilities

In this role, you will own the end-to-end delivery of customer-critical AI solutions, which encompasses:

• Problem discovery
• System architecture
• Development
• Production deployment
• Ongoing iteration informed by real-world usage

You will collaborate directly with customers and internal stakeholders to gain a deep understanding of workflows, constraints, and objectives. Your task will be to translate evolving and often ambiguous requirements into scalable, reliable, secure, and cost-effective AI- and LLM-powered systems.

Operating with a high degree of autonomy and technical judgment, you will lead complex engagements where trade-offs must be made quickly and thoughtfully in service of customer outcomes. Working closely with product, engineering, research, and platform teams, you will influence roadmap direction through deployment insights and help eliminate technical or organizational friction to ensure successful adoption in production environments. As a senior FDE, you will elevate execution through mentorship, technical leadership, and by contributing to how Forward Deployment Engineering is defined, practiced, and scaled within Microsoft.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field AND hands-on engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
• Strong proficiency in one or more general-purpose programming languages (e.g., C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Python).
• Proven experience in building, deploying, and operating production systems with a focus on scalability, reliability, security, and maintainability.
• Practical experience in designing and implementing AI/ML or LLM-based solutions in production environments.
• Experience with modern DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and infrastructure-as-code.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field AND hands-on engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field AND hands-on engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
• Experience optimizing, prompting, fine-tuning, or evaluating LLM-based systems for quality, performance, and scale.
• Demonstrated experience in coaching and mentoring engineers or leading technically complex initiatives across teams.
• Background in roles requiring sustained customer interaction, solution ownership, or platform adoption in production environments.

Other Requirements

The ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements is essential for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to, specialized security screenings:

This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Application Process

If you are interested in this opportunity, apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations, and ordinances.

If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, please reach out for more information.