Principal Forward Deployed Engineer – AI-Native Software Development

Principal Forward Deployed Engineer – AI-Native Software Development

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 € / year (est.) Home office (partial)
JetBrains

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Deploy cutting-edge AI software solutions and mentor teams in innovative environments.
  • Company: Join JetBrains, a leader in developer tools and AI-native software development.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on mentorship and collaboration.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of AI-driven development with top Fortune 500 companies.
  • Qualifications: Experience in software projects, customer-facing roles, and familiarity with Java or Python.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.

At JetBrains, 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 JetBrains 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.

JetBrains Central Provides Three Core Capabilities:

  • Governance and control: Policy enforcement, identity and access management, observability, auditability, and cost attribution for agent-driven work.
  • 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 JetBrains Central and enable JetBrains 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 JetBrains 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 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 JetBrains investments.

What You’ll Do

  • Deploy JetBrains 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 in addition to 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 JetBrains product teams to shape the platform based on real-world deployments and customer feedback.
  • Create delivery frameworks and train JetBrains 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 JetBrains ecosystem or developer productivity tooling.

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.

Principal Forward Deployed Engineer – AI-Native Software Development employer: JetBrains

At JetBrains, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel in their roles. As a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, you will not only engage with cutting-edge AI technologies but also have the opportunity to mentor fellow engineers and shape the future of software development. With a commitment to professional growth and a diverse, inclusive environment, JetBrains offers a unique platform for meaningful contributions and career advancement.

JetBrains

Contact Detail:

JetBrains Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Forward Deployed Engineer – AI-Native Software Development

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at JetBrains or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or GitHub with projects related to AI-native development, make sure to highlight them. This is your chance to demonstrate your expertise and passion for the field.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your problem-solving skills. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your past experiences with complex software systems. We want to see how you think on your feet!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the JetBrains team.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Forward Deployed Engineer – AI-Native Software Development

AI-Native Software Development
Cloud Systems Integration
Java
Python
CI/CD Workflows
Enterprise AI Governance
Data Privacy Controls

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Code:At JetBrains, we live and breathe code, so make sure your application reflects your passion for software development. Share your experiences with coding, tools you've used, and any projects that showcase your skills.

Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! We want to see how your experience aligns with the role of Principal Forward Deployed Engineer. Highlight relevant projects and skills that demonstrate your ability to integrate complex systems and work with customers.

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid jargon unless it's necessary. Make it easy for us to see why you’re a great fit for the role!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates about the hiring process.

How to prepare for a job interview at JetBrains

Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of AI-native software development and the JetBrains Central platform. Familiarise yourself with its core capabilities, like governance, agent execution infrastructure, and context optimisation. This will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their mission.

Showcase Your Experience

Prepare to discuss your past experiences in customer-facing roles or consulting environments. Highlight specific projects where you've integrated complex software systems or worked with enterprise clients. This will demonstrate your ability to handle the responsibilities of a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer.

Ask Insightful Questions

During the interview, don’t hesitate to ask questions that show your curiosity about the future of AI agents and software development. Inquire about their current challenges or how they envision the evolution of JetBrains Central. This shows you're not just interested in the role but also in the company's direction.

Emphasise Your Mentoring Skills

Since mentoring is a key part of this role, be ready to share examples of how you've supported and guided other engineers in the past. Discuss your approach to building a collaborative team environment and how you can help scale deployment practices within JetBrains.