Forward Deployed Engineer

FIS Systems NZ Limited; Waikanae; Hybrid; NZD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

FIS Systems NZ Limited is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to join a startup-like team delivering AI-enabled, autonomous banking software for Tier‑1 banks. You will embed with client teams, translate modernization goals into production software, and help shape future-state architecture at enterprise scale.

You will ship code, design integrations, and establish trust with bank engineering leadership while owning outcomes from concept to production.

Qualifications

• Systems builder with proven track record shipping robust, scalable infrastructure in Go or similar languages (Rust, Java).
• Distributed systems: Kafka, concurrency patterns, event-driven architectures, multi-region databases.
• Cloud infrastructure: AWS, GCP, or Azure; SRE principles, infrastructure as code, Kubernetes/OpenShift.
• Data engineering: building data-intensive systems and distributed data pipelines.
• AI-native engineer: integrates AI into workflows; familiar with LLMs and agentic patterns.
• 4+ years in a technical, customer-facing role.
• Fintech / banking knowledge preferred.
• High agency; ownership mindset; versatile in code, architecture, and workshops.
• Impact on core banking platforms used by Tier-1 banks.

Responsibilities

• Embed with bank architecture, infrastructure, and product teams to understand landscape and modernization goals.
• Architect future-state architecture to unlock accelerated innovation.
• Build relationships as a trusted technical partner for bank leadership.
• Translate patterns and needs from deployments into product requirements and platform improvements.
• Develop proofs of concept and end-to-end bank use cases (e.g., digital twins, accounts, wallets).
• Integrate systems using clean, durable, production-grade patterns.
• Build high-performance data pipelines connecting bank systems; validate scale and failover behavior.
• Support presales with technical demos and architecture workshops; travel 25–50% as needed.

Skills

Go

Rust

Java

Kafka

Event-driven

Multi-region DB

AWS

GCP

Azure

Kubernetes

OpenShift

Data pipelines

AI integration

SRE

DevOps

Tools

Kubernetes

OpenShift

Job description

This role sits within a newly acquired startup building an AI-enabled, autonomous banking platform for Tier‑1 financial institutions within the banking group.

The Forward Deployed Engineer embeds directly within strategic bank clients as a hands‑on engineer — translating modernization ambitions into production software at Tier‑1 scale.

Operating at the intersection of engineering, architecture, and client relationship, this role demands someone who can ship code, design integrations, and build lasting trust with bank engineering leadership.

This role offers the autonomy and ownership of a startup, combined with the scale and long‑term impact of FIS.

The team shapes how the world's largest banks adopt next‑generation core banking infrastructure — operating with clear accountability, enterprise resources, and direct production responsibility.

PS~ Candidates located near our FIS office locations in Sydney, Australia & Christchurch, New Zealand will be expected to follow hybrid schedule.

What You Will Be Doing

Customer & Discovery Embed and discover~ Work with bank architecture, infrastructure, and product teams to understand their landscape, pain points, and modernization goals. Translate business needs into technical requirements Architect~ Design the bank's future‑state architecture to unlock accelerated innovation Build relationships~ Become the trusted technical partner for bank engineering and architecture leadership. Turn a single deployment into an enterprise story Feed the product~ Translate patterns, friction points, and unmet needs from bank deployments into product requirements and platform improvements Build & Integration Build~ Develop proofs of concept and build bank use cases end to end (e.g., digital twins, checking accounts, stablecoin wallets) Integrate~ Connect upstream and downstream systems with integration patterns that are clean, durable, and production‑grade Data~ Build and maintain high‑performance data pipelines connecting the bank's existing systems Test and validate~ Run performance tests and validate scale, resilience, and failover behavior Commercial Support Presales~ Support sales with technical demos, architecture workshops, and platform education for prospective clients Travel~ Travel to client sites as needed (expect 25–50% depending on engagement phase)

Required Qualifications

Systems builder~ Proven track record shipping robust, scalable infrastructure in Go or similar systems languages (Rust, Java) Distributed systems~ Deep experience with Kafka, concurrency patterns, event‑driven architectures, and multi‑region databases Cloud infrastructure~ Strong background in AWS, GCP, or Azure. SRE principles, infrastructure as code, Kubernetes/OpenShift Data engineering~ Experience building data‑intensive systems and distributed data pipelines AI‑native engineer~ Naturally integrates AI into workflow; stays current on LLM capabilities and agentic development patterns 4+ years in a technical, customer‑facing role~ Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Architect, Consultant, or Software Engineer Fintech / banking~ Preference for knowledge of financial transaction flows, core banking systems, or banking technology High agency~ Thrives in ambiguity; writes the playbook when none exists Ownership mindset~ Owns outcomes, not just tasks. When something breaks before go‑live, fixes it — and builds the system so it doesn't break again Versatile~ Switches naturally between writing code, designing architecture, and leading a workshop Impact Direct impact on core banking platforms used by Tier‑1 global institutions High autonomy and accountability within a small, senior team Work shipped directly to production environments at enterprise scale

What We Offer

You At FIS, you can grow your career as far as you want to take it. Here’s what else we offer~ Opportunities to make an impact in fintech Personal and professional learning Inclusive, diverse work environment Resources to give back to your community Competitive salary and benefits Privacy Statement FIS is committed to protecting the privacy and security of all personal information that we process in order to provide services to our clients. For specific information on how FIS protects personal information online, please see the Online Privacy Notice. Sourcing Model Recruitment at FIS works primarily on a direct sourcing model; a relatively small portion of our hiring is through recruitment agencies. FIS does not accept resumes from recruitment agencies which are not on the preferred supplier list and is not responsible for any related fees for resumes submitted to job postings, our employees, or any other part of our company. #pridepass