Senior Principal Forward Deployed Engineer

Worky; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 244,000 - 318,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellbeing resources

Paid volunteer days

Job summary

Atlassian is seeking a Senior Principal Forward Deployed Engineer to lead AI/ML solutions for customers, collaborating with product, engineering, and design teams to deliver impactful AI-powered outcomes.

The role emphasizes working across the Atlassian product suite, shaping strategy, and ensuring production-grade deployments while navigating risk and compliance requirements.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of backend software development experience.
• 5+ years delivering AI/ML solutions in production.
• Deep expertise in applied AI/ML, including generative AI and LLMs.
• Proficiency in Python, JavaScript, and APIs/microservices.
• Ability to solve complex problems in dynamic environments.
• Strong communication and collaboration, influencing cross-functional teams.
• Experience with AI risk assessment and GDPR compliance.
• Strategic thinking aligning tech to business goals.

Responsibilities

• Code contributions across the entire Atlassian product suite.
• Lead design, development, and deployment of AI/ML-powered solutions.
• Architect and implement integrations using APIs and microservices.
• Influence product direction by building with customers.
• Champion AI-augmented workflow automation within customer environments.
• Oversee end-to-end deployment of AI solutions into production.
• Navigate AI risk, data privacy, and compliance.
• Mentor and guide Senior FDEs and engineers.
• Communicate complex technical concepts to stakeholders.
• Align technical solutions with business objectives.

Skills

Backend development

AI/ML solutions

Python

JavaScript

APIs & microservices

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory/compliance knowledge

Problem solving

Job description

Overview

Working at Atlassian

Atlassians have flexibility in where they work – whether in an office, from home, or a combination of the two. That way, Atlassians have more control over supporting their family, personal goals, and other priorities. We can hire people in any country where we have a legal entity. Interviews and onboarding are conducted virtually, as part of being a distributed-first company.

Your future team

As a Senior Principal Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) at Atlassian, you’ll be at the forefront of applied AI, working directly with customers and cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, AI-powered solutions. The FDE team partners with top organizations across industries, helping them leverage Atlassian’s AI capabilities to solve complex, real-world problems. You’ll collaborate with product, engineering, and design, rapidly growing your technical and domain expertise while making a tangible impact on business outcomes. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role for those who thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and are passionate about shaping the future of AI-powered teamwork.

Responsibilities

What you’ll do

As a Senior Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, you will:

• Code contributes across the entire Atlassian product suite, providing exceptionally broad engineering exposure

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI/ML-powered solutions using Rovo tailored to customer needs.

• Architect and implement robust application integrations using Python, JavaScript, or similar languages, with a focus on APIs, microservices, and enterprise-scale systems.

• Influence product direction by building with the customers, and realising the last mile papercuts they go through.

• Champion the adoption of AI-augmented workflow automation within customer environments, maximizing business value and operational efficiency.

• Oversee the end-to-end deployment of AI solutions into production, ensuring continuous evaluation, monitoring, and improvement.

• Navigate risk and compliance requirements, including AI risk assessment, data privacy (GDPR), and regulatory frameworks.

• Mentor and guide Senior FDEs and engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, creating concise artifacts for peers, partners, and leadership.

• Align technical solutions with business objectives, setting a clear vision for technological progress and measurable results.

Compensation

At Atlassian, we strive to design equitable, explainable, and competitive compensation programs. We follow consistent hiring practices and account for each candidate's skills, knowledge, and experience when setting base pay within the range.

Please visit go.atlassian.com/payzones for more information on which locations are included in each of our geographic pay zones. However, please confirm the zone for your specific location with your recruiter.

This role may also be eligible for benefits, bonuses, commissions, and equity.

Pay Ranges

In The United States, we have three geographic pay zones. For this role, our current base pay ranges for new hires in each zone are:

Zone A: $243,900 - $318,425

Zone B: $219,510 - $286,583

Zone C: $202,437 - $264,293

Qualifications

Your background

On the first day, we'll expect you to have:

• 15+ years of experience in backend software development, with at least 5 years in a principal/staff-level role.

• 5+ years of experience delivering impactful AI/ML solutions in production environments, including experience as a founding or forward-deployed engineer in 0-to-1 product development.

• Deep expertise in applied AI/ML, including generative AI, LLMs, and agent-based frameworks.

• Proficiency in Python, JavaScript, or similar languages, and experience with APIs, microservices, and enterprise integration.

• Demonstrated ability to solve complex, ambiguous problems and thrive in rapidly changing environments.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience influencing cross-functional teams without formal authority.

• Experience with AI risk assessment, data privacy, and compliance (e.g., GDPR).

• Strategic and innovative thinking, with a track record of aligning technical solutions to business goals.

It's great, but not required, if you have:

• Experience with Atlassian Intelligence, Rovo AI, or AI-powered Atlassian features.

• Familiarity with regulated industries (e.g., finance, healthcare).

• Experience deploying AI solutions to complex production systems at scale.

• Prior experience mentoring or leading engineering teams.

Benefits & Perks

Atlassian offers a wide range of perks and benefits designed to support you, your family and to help you engage with your local community. Our offerings include health and wellbeing resources, paid volunteer days, and so much more. To learn more, visit go.atlassian.com/perksandbenefits.

About Atlassian

At Atlassian, we're motivated by a common goal: to unleash the potential of every team. Our software products help teams all over the planet and our solutions are designed for all types of work. Team collaboration through our tools makes what may be impossible alone, possible together.

We believe that the unique contributions of all Atlassians create our success. To ensure that our products and culture continue to incorporate everyone's perspectives and experience, we never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

To provide you the best experience, we can support with accommodations or adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Simply inform our Recruitment team during your conversation with them.

To learn more about our culture and hiring process, visit go.atlassian.com/crh.

In line with local law, identity verification (which may include use of biometric data) is a condition of employment with Atlassian for employment fraud purposes.