At a Glance
- Tasks: Build cutting-edge agents and integrations directly at customer sites using Redpanda's innovative technology.
- Company: Join a diverse, people-first tech company revolutionising AI infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with travel opportunities and excellent career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by developing solutions that empower global enterprises.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development, data pipelines, and customer-facing roles.
Redpanda is pioneering the Agentic Data Plane (ADP) - a new category in AI infrastructure that makes it simple and secure to connect AI agents with enterprise data and systems. Built on a multi‑modal data streaming engine, Redpanda empowers agentic applications that reason and act in real‑time with speed, autonomy, and precision. Global leaders including Activision Blizzard, Cisco, Moody's, Texas Instruments, Vodafone and 2 of the top 5 banks in the U.S. rely on Redpanda to process hundreds of terabytes of data a day. Backed by premier venture investors Lightspeed, GV and Haystack VC, Redpanda is a diverse, people‑first organization with teams distributed around the globe.
About the Role: Redpanda is building the Agentic Data Plane (ADP) — the streaming and data infrastructure the world’s largest enterprises run mission‑critical agents on. Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) is the delivery arm. We embed engineers directly with strategic customers and build the agents and integrations that turn ADP into owned outcomes. As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you are the builder: embedded on‑site, working inside the customer’s environment, writing the code that ships.
You Will:
- Build at the customer site. Write production‑quality agents, integrations, and data pipelines on Redpanda ADP, inside the customer’s environment and codebase.
- Work in unfamiliar territory, fast. Every customer engagement is a new codebase, a new data environment, a new set of constraints.
- Own the technical deliverable. Understand what the engagement is supposed to produce, design the technical approach, build it, and hand it off clean — documented, maintainable, and running in production.
- Be the Redpanda technical voice with the customer’s engineers. Work alongside their team daily. Earn their trust.
- Drive toward exit from day one. Build with handoff in mind. Write documentation that their team can actually use.
- Feed learnings back. Identify patterns across engagements — what customers keep needing to build, where ADP makes things hard, what should be productized.
You Have:
- Engineering depth. You write production software. You’ve built backend systems, data pipelines, APIs, or agent systems that ran in production.
- Agent and integration experience. You’ve built agents, worked with LLM APIs, or built integrations between complex systems.
- Ability to operate in any environment. You’ve worked in someone else’s codebase, with constraints you didn’t set.
- Customer‑facing communication. You can work directly with a customer’s engineering team and be a credible, trusted technical partner.
- Shipped at a customer site or in a deployment context. You’ve personally been in the room when something hard went live.
Bonus:
- Experience in a forward‑deployed or customer‑embedded engineering model.
- Background in streaming or real‑time data systems.
- Experience in regulated industries or air‑gapped environments.
- Have been the first or only technical person in a customer engagement.
How We Work: Reports to: Head of FDE. Travel: 30–50% during active engagements; lighter between engagements. Join Redpanda if you’d enjoy being part of a fast‑moving, diverse, people‑first organization with team members around the globe and a culture based on trust, transparency, communication, and kindness.
Forward Deployed Engineer New United States, United Kingdom employer: Redpanda Data Inc.
Redpanda is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises people and innovation. As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you will have the unique opportunity to work directly with leading enterprises, driving impactful projects in real-time data infrastructure while enjoying robust professional growth opportunities and a competitive salary. With a commitment to transparency and collaboration, Redpanda fosters an environment where your contributions are valued and your career can flourish.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Forward Deployed Engineer New United States, United Kingdom
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Redpanda's projects, values, and culture. This way, when you chat with them, you can show off your knowledge and passion for what they do.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills and understanding data pipelines. Practice common scenarios you might face as a Forward Deployed Engineer to show you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨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 team at Redpanda.
We think you need these skills to ace Forward Deployed Engineer New United States, United Kingdom
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Forward Deployed Engineer role. Highlight your experience with production software, data pipelines, and customer-facing communication. We want to see how your skills align with what we do at Redpanda!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on detailing your engineering depth! Share specific examples of projects where you’ve built agents or integrations, especially in unfamiliar environments. We love seeing real-world applications of your skills.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon that might confuse us. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point about your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Redpanda Data Inc.
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially around data pipelines and agent systems. Brush up on your coding skills and be ready to discuss your past projects where you’ve built production-quality software.
✨Understand the Customer's Environment
Research Redpanda’s clients and their industries. Familiarise yourself with common challenges they face in data streaming and integration. This will help you demonstrate how you can quickly adapt and provide value in unfamiliar environments.
✨Communicate Like a Pro
Since this role involves working closely with customer engineering teams, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Be prepared to explain complex technical concepts in simple terms, showing that you can be a trusted partner rather than just a techie.
✨Think Handoff from Day One
Show that you understand the importance of documentation and training. Prepare examples of how you’ve successfully handed off projects in the past, ensuring that the customer’s team can maintain what you’ve built without relying on you.
