News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

Ask HN: Are You a Forward Deployed Engineer?

Let's ASSUME that the AI boom has, in fact, created an outsized demand for AI-literate SWE's who can understand and ship custom solutions from within client's organizations.

Are you a glorified consultant? Why or why not?

Does your position deployed, um, forward, give you unique visibility or access which results in you building something you could not have built as a [insert the opposite of forward deployed engineer here]?

Is your value to the organization hiring you mainly service-based, or does YOUR company have a product element?

( 3 comments | 3 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: Are You a Forward Deployed Engineer? by paaloeye on Friday October 30, 2026 @05:54PM (#50310657)
Yes, you're a glorified consultant. Agentic consultant.
Re:Ask HN: Are You a Forward Deployed Engineer? by andsoitis on Friday October 30, 2026 @05:55PM (#50310664)
I was, until the front moved.
Re:Ask HN: Are You a Forward Deployed Engineer? by tkdb on Friday October 30, 2026 @10:15PM (#50312619)
So... now you're not forward deployed?