Forward Deployed Principal Engineer

CBRE; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

CBRE is looking for a Forward Deploy Engineer to join our Data & Technology organization in Columbus, Ohio. This role involves embedding engineering expertise directly with product teams to enhance client experiences and deliver software outcomes swiftly.

The ideal candidate should possess at least 10 years of experience in software engineering, with demonstrated success in fast-paced, ambiguous environments. A strong background in AI, data engineering, and cloud architecture is essential for this position.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software engineering or data engineering.
• 3+ years in a customer-facing or embedded engineering role.
• Demonstrable track record of shipping production software.

Responsibilities

• Partner daily with product managers across data products.
• Own the full delivery lifecycle: design, build, demo, iterate.
• Build production-grade full-stack features across data pipelines.

Skills

Full-Stack Engineering

AI / LLM Integration

Data Engineering

Product Management

Cloud Architecture

API Design

Tools

React

Python

AWS

Snowflake

Job description

About CBRE Data & Technology

CBRE is the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm. Our Data & Technology organization sits at the intersection of real estate expertise and digital innovation, building the platforms, data products, and AI capabilities that give CBRE and its clients a decisive competitive edge. We are transforming how CBRE operates by embedding engineers directly into the business—accelerating delivery, reducing ambiguity, and turning product vision into measurable client and revenue impact.

Role Summary

We are reshaping our operating model through a Forward Deploy Engineer (FDE) program—embedding senior engineers directly within business product teams to close the gap between intent and execution. This is not a traditional support role. FDEs own outcomes.

As an FDE, you will work shoulder-to-shoulder with product managers and business stakeholders across GAM, DCI, and other high-priority data products on a daily basis. You will build features, run demos, iterate fast, and ship software that directly influences client experience and revenue. You operate comfortably in high ambiguity, surface and resolve complexity early, and translate broad business goals into working software.

This role requires a rare combination of product sensibility, deep engineering craft, AI fluency, and data expertise. You are equally at home whiteboarding a data model with a product manager and writing production-grade code the same afternoon.

What You'll Do

• Embedded Product Delivery
• Partner daily with product managers across data product teams to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Own the full delivery lifecycle: design, build, demo, iterate, and release—moving at the speed of the business.
• Serve as the primary engineering voice in product planning sessions, shaping roadmaps with technical precision and pragmatism.
• Operate effectively in ambiguity, making high-quality decisions with incomplete information and adjusting course rapidly.

Feature Development & Engineering

• Build production-grade full-stack features across data pipelines, APIs, and front-end interfaces.
• Architect and implement scalable data solutions that integrate with CBRE's enterprise data platforms and client-facing products.
• Design and deploy AI-powered capabilities—including LLM integrations, agentic workflows, and predictive analytics—into live products.
• Champion engineering excellence: code quality, automated testing, observability, and secure-by-default practices.

Stakeholder Engagement & Alignment

• Facilitate technical discovery sessions and working groups with business, product, and data stakeholders.
• Translate complex technical constraints into business-friendly language; translate ambiguous business intent into precise technical specifications.
• Accelerate cross-functional decision-making by resolving technical blockers early and surfacing trade-offs clearly.
• Run compelling product demos that build stakeholder confidence and drive investment alignment.

AI, Data & Platform Innovation

• Apply advanced AI and ML capabilities—including generative AI, natural language interfaces, and predictive models—to accelerate product value.
• Build and optimize data pipelines for ingestion, transformation, and integration of large, complex datasets.
• Drive ontology design, data modelling, and data governance practices to ensure scalable, trustworthy data products.
• Identify and prototype emerging technology applications that translate into near‑term business outcomes.

Enablement & Culture

• Mentor and coach product and engineering team members, elevating the technical baseline across business units.
• Establish patterns and reusable components that enable teams to move faster on subsequent product investments.
• Contribute to the FDE operating model itself—feeding back learnings that improve how CBRE embeds engineering into the business.

What You'll Need

• 10+ years in software engineering, data engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3+ years in a forward-deployed, customer-facing, or embedded engineering role—or equivalent experience working at the interface of business and technology.
• Demonstrable track record of shipping production software in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
• Prior experience partnering directly with business or product stakeholders (not just engineering teams).

Technical Skills

• Full-stack proficiency: modern front-end frameworks (React, TypeScript), back-end services (Python, Node.js, or similar), and cloud-native architectures (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Strong data engineering fundamentals: data modelling, pipeline development, SQL, and experience with modern data platforms (Snowflake, Databricks, or similar).
• Hands‑on AI/ML experience: LLM integration, prompt engineering, agentic systems, and/or traditional ML model deployment in production.
• API design and integration: RESTful and GraphQL APIs, enterprise system connectivity, and secure data exchange patterns.
• Strong command of software quality practices: testing, CI/CD, observability, and security fundamentals.

Product & Communication Skills

• Ability to think like a product manager: user‑centric, outcome‑oriented, and comfortable prioritizing under constraints.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication—capable of leading stakeholder workshops and presenting technical findings to senior business leadership.
• Natural tendency to simplify, not over‑engineer; judgment to know when good‑enough ships faster than perfect.
• Comfort with demos: builds compelling, polished demonstrations that generate momentum with non‑technical audiences.

Skills Snapshot

• Full‑Stack Engineering, AI / LLM Integration, Data Engineering
• Product Management, Cloud Architecture, Agentic Workflows
• Stakeholder Engagement, Data Modelling, API Design
• Demo & Storytelling, CI/CD & DevOps, SQL & Analytics

Equal Employment Opportunity

CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

Candidate Accommodations

CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at [e-mail] or via telephone at [phone] (U.S.) and [phone] (Canada).

CBRE, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity and affirmative action Employer

CBRE, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity and affirmative action Employer (Women/Minorities/Persons with Disabilities/US Veterans).