FDE - Lead Data Engineer

Kyndryl Inc.; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Kyndryl is hiring Forward Deployed Engineers to embed with customers and deliver AI solutions in production environments. You will prototype, deploy, and optimize AI systems, translating business challenges into technical delivery with a strong focus on outcomes and customer trust.

You will work at the intersection of engineering and consulting, using Python and modern AI frameworks, while collaborating with product teams to improve platforms and frameworks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• Proven experience delivering AI/ML solutions in production environments.
• Strong software engineering practices: CI/CD, testing, and version control.

Responsibilities

• Partner with customers to define and translate business challenges into AI-enabled technical deliverables.
• Prototype, deploy, and optimize AI systems that deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Own delivery end-to-end—from scoping to production—within customer teams.

Skills

Python

AI/ML frameworks like TensorFlow/PyTor

Data engineering (Pandas, Spark)

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Version control (Git)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Pandas

Job description

Who We Are

At Kyndryl, we run and reimagine the mission‑critical technology systems that drive advantage for the world’s leading businesses. We are at the heart of progress; with proven expertise and a continuous flow of AI‑powered insight, enabling smarter decisions, faster innovation, and a lasting competitive edge. For our people—Kyndryls—that means doing purposeful work that powers human progress. Join us and experience a flexible, supportive environment where your well‑being is prioritized and your potential can thrive.

The Role

Your role At Kyndryl, Forward Deployed Engineers work where enterprise AI becomes real. This is not a traditional consulting role or a back office engineering position. Forward Deployed Engineers embed directly with customers to design, build, and deploy AI solutions that operate in complex, regulated, production environments. As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you will own defined delivery workstreams within customer engagements—prototyping, deploying, and optimizing AI systems that create measurable business outcomes. You will operate with growing independence in customer environments, bridging deep engineering expertise with business context, and translating ambiguous problems into production‑ready solutions. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, consulting, and delivery accountability. You will use modern AI development tools to accelerate solution design, code generation, testing, and deployment, while building the customer trust that sustains long term impact and referenceable success.

What you will do

• Customer Engagement & Solution Integrity: Partner with customers to understand business challenges and translate them into high‑quality, fit‑for‑purpose technical solutions, prioritising the right outcome over the fastest one
• Rapid Prototyping: Build and iterate custom AI solutions tailored to customer needs, leveraging agentic AI frameworks
• Ownership, Deployment & Partnership: Own delivery end to end, from scoping to production. Work as part of the customer team to engineer and deploy production‑ready solutions that drive adoption and measurable business outcomes.
• Optimization: Troubleshoot and enhance system performance, scalability, and reliability
• Field Intelligence: Systematically capture deployment learnings, document best practices, and proactively share insights to inform enhancements to Kyndryl’s core platforms and frameworks
• Continuous Learning: Adapt quickly to emerging technologies and evolving customer requirements by engaging in ongoing professional development
• Platform Contribution: Actively contribute to the evolution of Kyndryl’s AI platforms through feedback, code contributions, and collaboration with product teams

Required skills and experience

• Programming Proficiency: Demonstrable expertise in Python, (or another modern language such as C#, Node.js or TypeScript); experience working with AI/ML frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch is a plus
• Software Engineering: Solid grasp of the software delivery lifecycle, version control (Git & GitHub), and data engineering tools such as Pandas and Spark
• Cloud & Distributed Systems: Experience with cloud AI platforms (AWS, Azure, Google AI) and distributed computing architectures

Preferred skills and experience

• Open-Source Ecosystems: Familiarity with community-driven AI tools and libraries, including Hugging Face and relevant repositories
• T‑shaped Profile: Deep technical expertise in one or two domains, with broad understanding across AI/ML, cloud, and consulting
• Agentic AI Systems: Experience designing, building, or integrating multi‑agent systems and orchestration frameworks (e.g., LangGraph, Semantic Kernel, Agent Framework, AutoGen, CrewAI), including the development of agent protocols and coordination mechanisms
• Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) & Knowledge Systems: Practical knowledge of deploying RAG architectures and integrating structured and unstructured knowledge sources into AI solutions
• Performance & Security: Knowledge of system‑level optimisation and security best practices for scalable AI systems
• Business Acumen: Ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions and communicate technical value to diverse stakeholders, including executive audiences
• Flexibility: Willingness to travel and work on customer premises as required
• Education: Degree‑level qualification in Computer Science, Informatics, Data Science, Engineering, or a closely related discipline - or equivalent professional experience

Being You

The “Kyn” in Kyndryl means kinship, which represents the strong bonds we have with each other, our customers and our communities. We focus on ensuring all Kyndryls feel included and we welcome people of all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. We believe in growth, and we’re excited to see what you can bring. At Kyndryl, employee feedback has told us that our number one driver of employee engagement is belonging. That sense of belonging — being a valued, respected, trusted member of the team — is fundamental to our culture and fueling great experiences for our customers. This dedication to welcoming everyone into our company means that Kyndryl gives you the ability to thrive and contribute to our culture of empathy and shared success. That’s The Kyndryl Way.

We focus on ensuring all Kyndryls feel included and we welcome people of all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

What You Can Expect

• Your career with us isn’t just a job—it’s an adventure with purpose.
• We offer a dynamic, hybrid‑friendly culture that supports your well‑being and empowers you to grow.
• Our Be Well programs are thoughtfully designed to support your financial, mental, physical, and social health—because we know that when you feel your best, you do your best.
• From your very first day, you’ll dive into impactful work that powers the systems our customers rely on every day.
• You won’t just contribute—you’ll make a difference, tackling meaningful projects that sharpen your skills and fuel your growth.
• We’re here to champion your journey.
• With powerful tools to chart your career path, personalized development goals aligned with your ambitions, and continuous feedback to keep you inspired and on track, you’ll have everything you need to thrive and evolve.
• You’ll develop in‑demand skills to grow your career and achieve your ambitions with access to cutting‑edge learning opportunities—from certifications with Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to coaching and hands‑on experiences.
• And through it all, you’ll be part of a culture that values empathy, restless learning, and a devotion to shared success.
• All of you is what we want. And what we need. Join us, and together, we can advance the vital systems that power human progress.