Hire Forward Deployed Engineer

Deploy an experienced Forward Deployed AI Engineer who works alongside your team to build, integrate, and productionize AI solutions across your existing technology stack from LLM applications and agentic workflows to enterprise systems and infrastructure. From understanding business requirements and technical constraints to supporting secure deployment and real-world adoption, our Forward Deployed Engineers bring hands-on engineering expertise directly into your team.

15+Years of Experience
10+Industries Covered
30+Countries Globally
45+Satisfied Clients
Forward Deployed Engineer at Work
Tech Stack

Technologies Our Forward Deployed Engineers Work With

Our Forward Deployed Engineers work across modern AI, software, cloud, data, and enterprise technologies adapting their expertise to your existing development environment and technology stack.

OpenAI
OpenAI
Anthropic
Anthropic
Gemini
Gemini
Llama
Llama
Qwen
Qwen
Mistral
Mistral
DeepSeek
DeepSeek
Hugging Face
Hugging Face
PyTorch
PyTorch
vLLM
vLLM
LangGraph
LangGraph
OpenAI Agents SDK
OpenAI Agents SDK
Claude Agent SDK
Claude Agent SDK
Google Genkit
Google Genkit
CrewAI
CrewAI
Pydantic AI
Pydantic AI
MCP
MCP
LangChain
LangChain
LlamaIndex
LlamaIndex
pgvector
pgvector
Pinecone
Pinecone
Qdrant
Qdrant
Elasticsearch
Elasticsearch
AWS
AWS
Azure
Azure
Google Cloud
Google Cloud
Docker
Docker
Kubernetes
Kubernetes
Terraform
Terraform
FastAPI
FastAPI
Python
Python
TypeScript
TypeScript
Node.js
Node.js
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
Redis
Redis
LangSmith
LangSmith
Langfuse
Langfuse
OpenTelemetry
OpenTelemetry
LiteLLM
LiteLLM
RAGAS
RAGAS
Braintrust
Braintrust
Arize Phoenix
Arize Phoenix
OpenAI
OpenAI
Anthropic
Anthropic
Gemini
Gemini
Llama
Llama
Qwen
Qwen
Mistral
Mistral
DeepSeek
DeepSeek
Hugging Face
Hugging Face
PyTorch
PyTorch
vLLM
vLLM
LangGraph
LangGraph
OpenAI Agents SDK
OpenAI Agents SDK
Claude Agent SDK
Claude Agent SDK
Google Genkit
Google Genkit
CrewAI
CrewAI
Pydantic AI
Pydantic AI
MCP
MCP
LangChain
LangChain
LlamaIndex
LlamaIndex
pgvector
pgvector
Pinecone
Pinecone
Qdrant
Qdrant
Elasticsearch
Elasticsearch
AWS
AWS
Azure
Azure
Google Cloud
Google Cloud
Docker
Docker
Kubernetes
Kubernetes
Terraform
Terraform
FastAPI
FastAPI
Python
Python
TypeScript
TypeScript
Node.js
Node.js
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
Redis
Redis
LangSmith
LangSmith
Langfuse
Langfuse
OpenTelemetry
OpenTelemetry
LiteLLM
LiteLLM
RAGAS
RAGAS
Braintrust
Braintrust
Arize Phoenix
Arize Phoenix
Integration

Connect AI Across Your Entire Enterprise

Our AI Forward Deployed Engineers integrate AI into your existing environment, connecting models, agents, data, business applications, APIs, and infrastructure while maintaining security, access, governance, and human oversight.

AI Models & Agents

AI Models & Agents

Orchestrate models and agents to support real-world enterprise processes and use cases.

LLMs
FoundationModels
Open-WeightModels
AI Agents
MCP

AI Workflows

RAGAgentic WorkflowsTool Calling
AutomationHuman-in-the-Loop

Enterprise Data

DocumentsKnowledge BasesData PipelinesVector StoresDatabases

Business Systems

CRM
ERP
InternalApp
</>
APIs
Legacy Systems
CorePlatform

Identity, Security & Governance

ComplianceAccess ControlsSSORBACOAuthAudit TrailsPII Protection

Production Environment

Cloud
PrivateVPCs
On-PremiseInfrastructure
</>
Monitor
Observability
Expert Profiles

Meet Our Forward Deployed Engineering Talent

Get the expertise you need across AI, software, cloud, data, and solution engineering.

Puneet Singhal

Puneet Singhal

Expert

Brings strong AI engineering capabilities to client projects, helping teams turn complex requirements into practical AI solutions and supporting their implementation in production environments.

Skills

AI EngineeringGenerative AILLM ApplicationsRAGAI AgentsMachine LearningPythonCloud DeploymentAI EvaluationSystem Integration
Rakesh Gehlot

Rakesh Gehlot

Associate

Contributes to client engagements through hands-on development and implementation, helping build practical solutions aligned with project requirements and technical environments.

Skills

Technical DiscoverySolution DesignSystem IntegrationAPI IntegrationWorkflow AutomationTechnical DeliveryProduction SupportCloud DeploymentSoftware EngineeringCustomer Collaboration

Meet Our Forward Deployed Engineering Talent

  • Puneet Singhal - Expert

    Brings strong AI engineering capabilities to client projects, helping teams turn complex requirements into practical AI solutions and supporting their implementation in production environments.

    Skills: AI Engineering, Generative AI, LLM Applications, RAG, AI Agents, Machine Learning, Python, Cloud Deployment, AI Evaluation, System Integration

  • Rakesh Gehlot - Associate

    Contributes to client engagements through hands-on development and implementation, helping build practical solutions aligned with project requirements and technical environments.

    Skills: Technical Discovery, Solution Design, System Integration, API Integration, Workflow Automation, Technical Delivery, Production Support, Cloud Deployment, Software Engineering, Customer Collaboration

Why Hire AI FDE Experts

Bridge the Gap Between AI Potential and Production

Building AI capabilities internally requires more than adding headcount. Teams need specialized AI expertise, technical ramp-up, enterprise context, and the ability to turn evolving requirements into production systems. Our Forward Deployed Engineers bring that expertise directly into your team and work within your existing environment.

AI Expertise

Traditional HiringDepends on the hire
General AgencyVaries by team
AI Forward Deployed EngineerSpecialized AI Engineering expertise

Team Integration

Traditional HiringHigh after onboarding
General AgencyOften external
AI Forward Deployed EngineerWorks directly with your team

Technical Ownership

Traditional HiringInternal
General AgencyProject-dependent
AI Forward Deployed EngineerContributes across build, integration & deployment

Business Context

Traditional HiringDevelops over time
General AgencyOften limited
AI Forward Deployed EngineerWorks closely with business requirements

Enterprise Integration

Traditional HiringRequires internal coordination
General AgencyScope-dependent
AI Forward Deployed EngineerWorks within your existing environment

Production Focus

Traditional HiringDepends on experience
General AgencyProject-dependent
AI Forward Deployed EngineerFocused on production delivery

Knowledge Transfer

Traditional HiringInternal by default
General AgencyVaries
AI Forward Deployed EngineerBuilt into the engagement

Engagement Flexibility

Traditional HiringFixed headcount
General AgencyProject-based
AI Forward Deployed EngineerDeploy expertise around your specific need
Key Capabilities

From AI Engineering to Enterprise Delivery

Our AI Forward Deployed Engineers bridge the gap between AI innovation and enterprise execution, bringing the engineering expertise needed to design, build, integrate, and operationalize AI solutions around your business requirements.

AI & LLM Engineering
01

AI & LLM Engineering

Build production-ready AI applications with LLMs, structured outputs, embeddings, RAG, document intelligence, and evaluation.

Agentic AI
02

Agentic AI

Develop AI Agents with tool use, orchestration, MCP, multi-agent workflows, guardrails, and human-in-the-loop controls.

Software Engineering
03

Software Engineering

Engineer the application layer around AI with APIs, backend services, databases, scalable architectures, and production-grade code.

Deployment & MLOps
04

Deployment & MLOps

Take AI systems from development to production with cloud infrastructure, containers, CI/CD, model serving, monitoring, and observability.

Enterprise Integration
05

Enterprise Integration

Connect AI with enterprise data, APIs, business applications, authentication systems, and existing technology environments.

AI Solution & Product Delivery
06

AI Solution & Product Delivery

Translate business requirements into technical solutions through discovery, scoping, architecture, implementation, adoption, and knowledge transfer.

From AI Engineering to Enterprise Delivery

  • 1. AI & LLM Engineering

    Build production-ready AI applications with LLMs, structured outputs, embeddings, RAG, document intelligence, and evaluation.

  • 2. Agentic AI

    Develop AI Agents with tool use, orchestration, MCP, multi-agent workflows, guardrails, and human-in-the-loop controls.

  • 3. Software Engineering

    Engineer the application layer around AI with APIs, backend services, databases, scalable architectures, and production-grade code.

  • 4. Deployment & MLOps

    Take AI systems from development to production with cloud infrastructure, containers, CI/CD, model serving, monitoring, and observability.

  • 5. Enterprise Integration

    Connect AI with enterprise data, APIs, business applications, authentication systems, and existing technology environments.

  • 6. AI Solution & Product Delivery

    Translate business requirements into technical solutions through discovery, scoping, architecture, implementation, adoption, and knowledge transfer.

Our Development Approach

How Our FDEs Work With Your Team

Our Forward Deployed Engineers integrate into your existing team and ways of working, contributing across the AI development lifecycle while adapting to your technology, processes, and business requirements.

01. Understand & Scope

Work directly with your business and technical stakeholders to understand requirements, workflows, priorities, data, and technical constraints.

02. Design & Develop

Translate requirements into practical solutions, contributing to architecture, AI engineering, software development, and technical implementation.

03. Integrate & Collaborate

Work with your engineering, product, data, and IT teams to connect the solution with existing systems, APIs, data, and workflows.

04. Secure & Productionize

Help prepare solutions for real-world use by addressing performance, reliability, security, compliance, access, monitoring, and operational requirements.

05. Support & Evolve

Continue working with your team to troubleshoot, optimize, share knowledge, and adapt the solution as business and technical requirements evolve.

Embedded in your team. Aligned with your goals. Built around your environment.

Hiring Process

How to Hire Forward Deployed Engineers

Get the right engineering expertise through a simple process built around your project, team, and hiring needs.

01

Share Your Requirements

Tell us about your project, goals, timeline, team structure, and required expertise. We review your needs to understand the right fit.

02

Meet Your Match

Review relevant Forward Deployed Engineer profiles and schedule an interview at a time that works for you. Discuss their experience, your project, and expectations.

03

Choose Your Engineer

Select the engineer who best matches your requirements. Finalize responsibilities, engagement model, timeline, and start date.

04

Get Started Quickly

Once the fit is confirmed, we finalize the engagement details and get your engineer ready to join your team based on your preferred start date.

05

Scale When Needed

Add expertise, adjust team capacity, or extend the engagement as your project and business needs evolve.

Proven Impact

What Our Forward Deployed Engineers Have Delivered

Explore how Starling Elevate applies forward deployed engineering services to solve real business challenges and deliver practical, customer-focused solutions.

Real Estate Sales Assistant

View case study

Challenge

Streamline property discovery and sales support while helping teams respond to customer needs more effectively.

Solution

Built an AI-powered sales assistant for lead qualification, property recommendations, and sales workflows.

Outcome

Faster customer responses, improved lead engagement, and more efficient sales operations.
Real Estate Sales Assistant

What Our Forward Deployed Engineers Have Delivered

  • Real Estate Sales Assistant

    Challenge: Streamline property discovery and sales support while helping teams respond to customer needs more effectively.

    Solution: Built an AI-powered sales assistant for lead qualification, property recommendations, and sales workflows.

    Outcome: Faster customer responses, improved lead engagement, and more efficient sales operations.

    View Real Estate Sales Assistant Case Study
  • AI Digital Front Door Platform for Healthcare

    Challenge: Simplify complex healthcare workflows while creating a more connected experience for patients and providers.

    Solution: Developed an AI-powered digital platform connecting patient engagement, registration, appointments, communication, and provider workflows.

    Outcome: A more streamlined healthcare experience with improved workflow efficiency and easier access to services.

    View AI Digital Front Door Platform for Healthcare Case Study
Ready to Hire a Forward Deployed Engineer?

Ready to Hire a Forward Deployed Engineer?

Add specialized AI and software engineering expertise to your team without rebuilding your internal capabilities from the ground up.

FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

A Forward Deployed Engineer works closely with customers and internal teams to understand problems, build solutions, integrate systems, and support production deployment.

They can handle technical discovery, solution design, software development, system integration, deployment, troubleshooting, and continuous improvements.

Start by defining your project scope, required technical expertise, timeline, and engagement model. Then select an engineer whose experience matches your requirements.

Strong software engineering, system integration, cloud, AI or data expertise, problem-solving, communication, and business understanding are important skills.

FDEs are useful when projects involve complex requirements, customer collaboration, multiple systems, or evolving business and technical needs.

Yes. Remote FDEs can work with distributed teams using modern collaboration, development, cloud, and deployment tools.

Yes. AI FDEs can work on LLM applications, RAG systems, AI agents, automation, integrations, and production AI solutions.

A traditional software engineer generally works from defined technical requirements, while an FDE works closer to the business or customer problem and helps shape, build, integrate, and deploy the solution.

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