Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering

Rippling; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Rippling is seeking a Manager of Forward Deployed Engineering in Seattle to lead a high-performing team responsible for delivering customized solutions to our customers. You will guide engineering, customer success, and product to ensure complex implementations are delivered with excellence.

You will own engagements, mentor engineers, and drive cross-functional collaboration to unblock delivery and scale performance while maintaining high quality and customer impact.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software development experience in one or more languages (Python/JS/Ruby/Java/Go/C/C++)
• 1–3+ years of engineering leadership or mentoring
• Proven ability to deliver complex projects in fast-paced environments
• Excellent communication and customer-facing skills

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of FDEs and own execution across customer engagements
• Oversee custom integrations, workflows, and analytics using Rippling products and multiple languages
• Drive operational excellence and resourcing across concurrent engagements
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to unblock delivery and ensure customer success

Skills

Python

JavaScript

Go

C++

Leadership

Customer-facing

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/SE

Tools

SQL

Data Modeling

Job description

About the role

As a Manager of Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) at Rippling, you will lead a team of engineers responsible for delivering high‑impact, customized solutions for our customers. You will operate at the intersection of engineering, customer success, and product—ensuring your team consistently executes complex implementations with high quality and efficiency.

This role is ideal for a hands‑on technical leader who thrives in fast‑paced environments, enjoys solving ambiguous real‑world problems, and is passionate about developing strong engineering talent. You will be accountable for team delivery, operational excellence, and contributor growth across multiple concurrent customer engagements.

What you will do

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of FDEs
  • Provide day‑to‑day guidance, mentorship, and coaching
  • Drive performance management, feedback, and career development
  • Build a strong team culture focused on ownership and customer impact
• Own execution across customer engagements
  • Ensure successful delivery of complex implementations across multiple projects
  • Oversee development of custom integrations, workflows, applications, and analytics using Rippling products and languages like Python, Javascript, Ruby, Java, Go, C or C++
  • Maintain high standards for quality, reliability, and scalability
• Drive operational excellence
  • Improve team‑level processes, delivery consistency, and execution rigor
  • Manage resourcing, prioritization, and execution across concurrent engagements
  • Identify and resolve delivery bottlenecks and cross‑team dependencies
• Partner cross‑functionally to unblock execution
  • Collaborate with Account Management, Product, Engineering, and CX teams
  • Escalate and resolve issues impacting customer delivery
  • Ensure alignment between customer needs and product capabilities
• Engage directly with customers when needed
  • Support critical engagements and high‑priority accounts
  • Help scope solutions and guide technical decision‑making
  • Ensure strong customer outcomes and satisfaction
• Contribute to team hiring and growth
  • Participate in recruiting and onboarding new FDEs
  • Maintain a high bar for technical and customer‑facing talent

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of software development experience with strong proficiency in one or more of: Python, Javascript, Ruby, Java, Go, C or C++, along with SQL and data modeling
• 1–3+ years of experience leading or mentoring engineers (formal or informal leadership)
• Proven ability to deliver complex technical projects in fast‑paced environments
• Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and prioritize effectively
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, especially in customer‑facing contexts
• Customer‑centric mindset with experience working directly with external stakeholders
• Willingness to travel to client sites as needed (up to ~25%)

Additional Information

Rippling is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Rippling is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities who need assistance during the hiring process. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email [e-mail].

Rippling highly values having employees working in‑office to foster a collaborative work environment and company culture. For office‑based employees (employees who live within a defined radius of a Rippling office), Rippling considers working in the office, at least three days a week under current policy, to be an essential function of the employee's role.