Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)

NTT DATA, Inc.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

NTT DATA is seeking a Forward-Deployed Engineer to rapidly build demos, prototypes, proofs of concept, and MVPs that illustrate AI opportunities for clients and account teams. This client-facing role blends hands-on engineering, AI fluency, and product thinking to translate client problems into working technical concepts using models, data, workflows, and integrations.

You will work with Solution Architects and ecosystem partners to ensure scalable architecture, security, and enterprise

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, AI engineering, data engineering, ML engineering, solution engineering, technical consulting, or related hands-on technical roles.
• 2+ years of experience building or deploying AI, ML, GenAI, LLM, RAG, agentic AI, data science, or automation solutions.
• Experience integrating APIs, data sources, model providers, workflow tools, and cloud services into working demos or prototypes.
• Working knowledge of responsible AI, security, data handling, privacy, and enterprise deployment considerations.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.

Responsibilities

• Rapidly build demos, prototypes, proofs of concept, and MVPs for clients and account teams.
• Translate client problems into working technical concepts using models, data, and workflows.
• Support discovery workshops, executive demos, technical deep dives, and value sessions.
• Partner with Solution Architects to ensure prototypes align to scalable architecture and security.
• Collaborate with ecosystem partners across OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Google/Gemini, cloud, and data platforms.
• Package prototypes into reusable assets, scripts, and reference architectures.
• Validate feasibility, data dependencies, integration complexity, and risks early in the sales cycle.
• Help accelerate opportunity conversion by making AI solutions concrete for clients.
• Contribute lessons learned and code back to the FDE knowledge base.

Skills

Software engineering

AI engineering

Data engineering

ML engineering

Solution engineering

Technical consulting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

NTT DATA is a trusted global innovator of business and technology services, helping clients innovate, optimize, and transform for success. We strive to hire exceptional, innovative, and passionate individuals who want to grow with us. If you want to be part of an inclusive, adaptable, and forward-thinking organization,

The team you'll be working with:

The Forward-Deployed Engineer is a client-facing builder within the AI GTM organization responsible for rapidly creating demos, prototypes, proofs of concept, and MVPs that make AI opportunities tangible for clients and account teams.

This role combines hands-on engineering, AI fluency, product thinking, and field presence to translate client problems into working technical concepts using models, agents, data, workflows, integrations, and user experiences.

What you'll be doing:

• Rapidly build demos, prototypes, proofs of concept, and MVPs that bring AI use cases to life for clients and account teams.
• Translate client problems into working technical concepts using models, agents, data, workflows, APIs, integrations, and user experience patterns.
• Support discovery workshops, executive demos, technical deep dives, proof-of-value sessions, and partner enablement activities.
• Partner with Solution Architects to ensure prototypes align to scalable architecture, delivery paths, security expectations, and operational requirements.
• Work with ecosystem partners to showcase differentiated capabilities across OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Google/Gemini, cloud, data, and enterprise platforms.
• Package prototypes into reusable assets, demo scripts, technical collateral, setup guides, reference architectures, and handoff materials.
• Validate technical feasibility, data dependencies, integration complexity, user experience assumptions, and implementation risks early in the sales cycle.
• Help accelerate opportunity conversion by making AI solutions concrete, credible, and client-specific.
• Contribute lessons learned, reusable code, prompts, agent patterns, and implementation guidance back into the global FDE knowledge base.

Success Measures:

• Pursuit deal volume, measured as total TCV value of AI deals where the FDE supported.
• Pursuit win rate for AI deals where the FDE supported.
• Prototype-to-pipeline conversion, measured by demos, prototypes, or POCs that convert into qualified pipeline, funded POCs, or downstream implementation work.
• Utilization, reuse of technical assets, demo quality, and stakeholder feedback.

What experience you'll bring:

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, AI engineering, data engineering, ML engineering, solution engineering, technical consulting, or related hands-on technical roles.
• 2+ years of experience building or deploying AI, ML, GenAI, LLM, RAG, agentic AI, data science, or automation solutions.
• Experience integrating APIs, data sources, model providers, workflow tools, and cloud services into working demos or prototypes.
• Working knowledge of responsible AI, security, data handling, privacy, and enterprise deployment considerations.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Google/Gemini, Azure, AWS, GCP, Databricks, Snowflake, vector databases, model registries, and MLOps/LLMOps tooling.
• Experience working directly with clients, sales teams, or product teams to rapidly prototype solutions under ambiguous conditions.
• AI/ML, cloud, data engineering, or software engineering certifications.
• Strong technical curiosity, client empathy, communication, bias for action, collaboration, and ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
• Ability to travel as required for client and internal engagements.

Who we are:

At NTT DATA, you have endless opportunities to think big, act bold and take ownership. As a $30+ billion business and technology services, AI and digital infrastructure leader, we co-innovate solutions with clients and partners globally for business and societal impact. Serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100, with experts in over 70 countries, we encourage experimentation and recognize great work. Proudly a Global Top Employer, NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion annually in R&D. Make this the place where you belong, learn, and build your network. Make this the place where you grow.

What we’ll offer you:

We offer a range of tailored benefits that support your physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing. Our Learning and Development team ensure that there are continuous growth and development opportunities for our people. We also offer the opportunity to have flexible work options.

You can find more information about NTT DATA UK & Ireland here: https://uk.nttdata.com/

We are an equal opportunities employer. We believe in the fair treatment of all our employees and commit to promoting equity and diversity in our employment practices. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively collaborate with individuals who have disabilities and long-term health conditions which have an effect on their ability to do normal daily activities, ensuring that barriers are eliminated when it comes to employment opportunities. In line with our commitment, we guarantee an interview to applicants who declare to us, during the application process, that they have a disability and meet the minimum requirements for the role. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. Join us in building a truly diverse and empowered team.