Forward Deployed Engineer (Palantir Foundry & Custom Development)

Jacobs; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs in the United States seeks a Forward Deployed Engineer I to build and configure Palantir Foundry features and custom software alongside senior colleagues. You will work across client projects, learn quickly, and contribute to defined requirements with guidance from architects.

You'll gain exposure to multiple domains, collaborate with project managers and developers, and grow skills in Foundry, REST APIs, and modern frontend technologies in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• 0–5 years of relevant experience across stacks.
• Foundational Palantir Foundry experience or ability to ramp up quickly; AIP/OSDK exposure a plus.
• Software development experience with a modern JavaScript frontend framework (React preferred) and/or Python.
• Comfort working across multiple projects — able to balance competing priorities with support from the team.
• A fast-paced, client-facing mindset — comfortable with shifting requirements and being embedded with the people using what you build.

Responsibilities

• Build and configure Foundry-based and custom software features per requirements.
• Translate guidance into working code, ontology objects, pipelines, or integrations.
• Manage workload across multiple projects with prioritization and context switching.
• Seek direction when facing ambiguity rather than guessing.
• Follow portfolio standards to fit into the DPS portfolio.
• Debug and support features you’ve built and existing apps.
• Grow skills across Palantir Foundry and custom development with senior support.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with project managers, developers, and SMEs in client sessions.

Skills

Foundational Palantir Foundry exposure

JavaScript frontend (React)

Python development

Cross-project collaboration

Education

Relevant college degree

Tools

Palantir Foundry (Ontology, pipelines, apps)

REST APIs

Databricks

Snowflake

PostgreSQL

Cosmos DB

MongoDB

Git

CI/CD

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world\'s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

We\'re looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE I) to build alongside more experienced FDEs, Implementation Leads, and Architects, executing well-defined requirements across Foundry and custom applications. You\'ll work across multiple active projects, learning to move between domains quickly — with guidance close at hand when requirements are unclear or you\'re in unfamiliar territory. This isn\'t a role where you get one project and go deep for a year; you\'ll be building real range early in your career, with support built into how the work is structured.

What You\'ll Do

• Build, Forward Deployed — Work embedded with client and project teams to build and configure Foundry-based and custom software features in response to defined requirements
• Execute Well-Defined Work — Take clear direction from the Senior AI Solutions Architect or a Mid–Senior FDE and turn it into working code, Ontology objects, pipelines, or integrations — asking good questions when something\'s unclear rather than guessing
• Support Multiple Projects — Carry a workload across more than one project, learning to prioritize and context-switch between codebases and problem domains without dropping quality
• Ask for Direction — Recognize when you\'re facing ambiguity or unfamiliar territory and proactively seek guidance rather than stalling or guessing
• Follow Portfolio Standards — Build to the patterns and standards set by more senior FDEs and the architect, so your work fits cleanly into the broader DPS portfolio
• Debug & Support — Troubleshoot issues in features you\'ve built, respond to feedback, and support existing applications alongside new work
• Build Range — Grow your skills across both Palantir Foundry and custom development, with support from senior team members as you branch into less familiar areas
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally — Work alongside project managers, other developers, and subject matter experts as an active contributor, present in client sessions and supporting the technical conversation.

Must-haves

• 0–5 years of relevant experience — strong fundamentals and a genuine eagerness to build range across stacks
• Foundational experience with Palantir Foundry (Ontology, pipelines, applications) or demonstrated ability to ramp up quickly; AIP/OSDK exposure a plus
• Software development experience, including a modern JavaScript frontend framework (React preferred) and/or Python
• Comfort working across multiple projects — able to balance competing priorities with support from the team
• A fast-paced, client-facing mindset — comfortable with shifting requirements and being embedded with the people using what you build.

Strongly Preferred

• Exposure to REST APIs and relational or cloud-native data platforms (e.g., Databricks, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, Cosmos DB, MongoDB)
• Interest in AI/LLM-enabled features and using AI tools to accelerate your own development work
• Working knowledge of Agile delivery, Git, and CI/CD practices
• Prior internship, co-op, or early-career experience in a professional services, consulting, or client-facing environment
• Education/Certifications — A relevant college degree and/or willingness to pursue certifications (e.g., Palantir Foundry certifications, cloud platform certifications) — equivalent hands-on experience valued just as highly.

Location

• Hybrid in the United States, with occasional travel for project and client meetings, primarily in North America.
• A list of offices can be found here https//www.jacobs.com/locations/americas/united-states

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $80,000.00 to $110,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on September 22, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we\'re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.