At a Glance
- Tasks: Deploy cutting-edge AI software solutions and mentor teams in innovative environments.
- Company: Join JetBrains, a leader in developer tools with a passion for coding.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel opportunities and a chance to influence enterprise AI adoption.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI-native development with top-tier clients and impactful projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in software projects, customer-facing roles, and familiarity with Java or Python.
The predicted salary is between 67500 - 82500 £ per year.
At Jet Brains, code is our passion.
Ever since we started, back in 2000, we have strived to make the strongest, most effective developer tools on earth.
By automating routine checks and corrections, our tools speed up production, freeing developers to grow, discover, and create.
We just unveiled Jet Brains Central, a platform for agent-driven software development that connects tools, agents, and infrastructure.
It enables automated AI workflows to run, be monitored, and be managed across teams – with clear visibility into results, costs, and performance.
Jet Brains Central provides three core capabilities
Governance and control
Policy enforcement, identity and access management, observability, auditability, and cost attribution for agent-driven work.
Some of these functionalities are already available via the
Jet Brains Central Console .
Agent execution infrastructure
Cloud agent runtimes and computation provisioning that allow agents to run reliably across development environments.
Agent optimization and context
Shared semantic context across repositories and projects, enabling agents to access relevant knowledge, and task routing to the most appropriate models or tools.
Inside the Professional Services department, we are building a team of Forward Deployed Engineers to help our customers adopt AI-native development with Jet Brains Central and enable Jet Brains consulting partners to transform their customers’ AI-native software development lifecycle.
About the role
As a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, you will work directly with early adopter customers to deploy Jet Brains Central platform into complex enterprise environments and help them move from experimental AI usage to governed, scalable AI-native development.
You will act as a trusted advisor to customer engineering teams and consulting partners, while also mentoring other Forward Deployed Engineers and helping with complex deployments.
In this role, you will help establish best practices for enterprise AI adoption and influence how organizations implement AI-driven software development.
This role is often a strong fit for engineers who have previously served as Principal or Staff Engineers, Heads of Engineering, CTOs, or Solutions Architects and who enjoy working directly with customers while staying deeply involved with complex technical systems.
This role combines consulting, architecture, and hands-on engineering.
Your work in the field will directly influence how our platform evolves and how enterprises adopt AI-driven development.
You will work directly with the world’s most innovative companies — our client base includes 420 of the Fortune 500 — ensuring they maximize the value of their Jet Brains investments.
- What you’ll do
- Deploy Jet Brains Central platform into enterprise development environments, CI/CD systems, and internal developer platforms.
- Help organizations transition from ad-hoc AI experimentation to governed AI-native development workflows.
- Implement enterprise AI governance, including security policies, access management, and data privacy controls.
- Enable observability for AI-driven development to help organizations understand their AI usage and its impact on productivity, as well as their code-generation patterns.
- Design sustainable AI adoption strategies, including usage controls and cost visibility across multiple model providers.
- Integrate our cloud-based agent execution layer, allowing AI agents to run securely and at scale.
- Collaborate closely with Jet Brains product teams to shape the platform based on real-world deployments and customer feedback.
- Create delivery frameworks and train Jet Brains partners to deliver the desired scope of service.
- Mentor and support other Forward Deployed Engineers, sharing architectural expertise and helping to scale the team’s deployment practices.
- You will thrive in this role if you are
- A consultant at heart who can communicate effectively with both engineers and technical leadership.
- Able to see the whole picture of the software development lifecycle across developer tools, infrastructure, APIs, and cloud systems.
- Experienced at integrating complex software systems into enterprise environments.
- Curious about the future of AI agents and AI-native software development.
- Comfortable working with early adopters and overcoming ambiguous technical challenges.
- Motivated to mentor other engineers and contribute to building a new technical discipline.
- What you will bring
- Experience in software-related projects, ideally in a customer-facing or consulting environment.
- Familiarity with Java or Python.
- Experience building or integrating developer platforms, infrastructure systems, or software solutions.
- Familiarity with modern development workflows (CI/CD, developer environments, internal developer platforms, etc.).
- Experience working directly with customers or technical stakeholders.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to operate in fast-evolving technical environments.
- Ability and desire to travel to meet customers.
- These would be a plus, but are not blockers
- Experience with industry-specific solutions (fintech, telco, retail, etc.)
- Experience with AI/LLM platforms, agent frameworks, or AI-assisted development tools.
Experience in solutions engineering, consulting, or forward-deployed engineering roles. - Familiarity with the Jet Brains ecosystem or developer productivity tooling.
- #LI-KP1
- We are an equal opportunity employer
We know great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere.
That’s why we do our best to create an open and inclusive workplace – one that welcomes everyone regardless of their background, identity, religion, age, accessibility needs, or orientation.
We process the data provided in your job application in accordance with the
Recruitment Privacy Policy.
Staff Forward Deployed Engineer – AI-Native Software Development in London employer: JetBrains
JetBrains is an excellent employer for those looking to make a significant impact in the software development landscape. With a strong focus on innovation and a collaborative work culture, employees are encouraged to grow their skills while working on cutting-edge AI-first tools. The flexibility of remote work combined with opportunities for professional development makes JetBrains a rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Forward Deployed Engineer – AI-Native Software Development in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at JetBrains or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to JetBrains.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like JetBrains.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like JetBrains that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Forward Deployed Engineer – AI-Native Software Development in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at JetBrains.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at JetBrains and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at JetBrains
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If JetBrains uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
