At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us to design and deliver innovative banking solutions with cutting-edge technology.
- Company: Thought Machine, a rapidly growing fintech revolutionising banking technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, generous leave, and a vibrant workplace culture.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for learning and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fintech space while working with talented teams.
- Qualifications: Proficiency in Python or Go, and experience in client-facing technical roles.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Thought Machine's mission is bold – to properly and permanently rid the world's banks of legacy technology. To achieve this, we have developed the foundations of modern banking through core and payments technology which run natively in the cloud. What we are attempting is hard and means we need great people working together to build great technology.
The Forward Deployed Engineer is Thought Machine's primary technical interface with the client. FDEs embed directly with client engineering teams to design, build, and deliver production‑ready implementations of Vault and associated products. This is a hands‑on, generalist engineering role that spans backend development, systems integration, infrastructure, and technical consulting—driven by one goal: making the client successful.
FDEs operate across the full project lifecycle ensuring requirements are implemented, tested and work to improve the product based on client feedback. You will be expected to travel to client sites (up to 25% of your time), work autonomously in complex environments, and act as the connective tissue between Thought Machine's product engineering and the client's delivery teams.
Client Delivery & Embedding- Embed with client engineering teams on‑site and remotely to deliver working implementations of Thought Machine Vault products, from initial design through production readiness.
- Own the technical success of your assigned client engagements—you are accountable for solutions that work in practice, not just in architecture documents.
- Work closely with client architects, engineers, and programme leads to translate business requirements into technical delivery plans.
- Act as technical point of contact for the client, building trust through deep competence and consistent delivery.
- Write production‑quality code (primarily Python/Go; additional languages a plus) to build integrations, tooling, data pipelines, contribute to core products and extensions that connect Vault to the client's ecosystem.
- Debug, troubleshoot, and resolve complex technical issues across distributed systems—including databases, messaging systems, container orchestration, and cloud infrastructure.
- Design and deliver scalable solutions covering high availability, disaster recovery, capacity planning, and security in collaboration with client and internal teams.
- Contribute to internal tooling, frameworks, and reusable patterns that accelerate delivery across all FDE engagements.
- Support the Commercial team during presales by answering deep technical questions, running proof‑of‑concept implementations, and demonstrating feasibility.
- Advise clients on best practices for Vault implementation, including system design beyond Vault's boundaries—empowering genuine digital transformation.
- Serve as the voice of the client internally—channel technical feedback, pain points, and feature requests to product and engineering teams.
- Identify patterns across engagements that can be turned into product improvements, documentation, or shared tooling.
- Engineering Proficiency – Strong hands‑on experience with one of Python or Go. Comfortable working with ambiguous requirements to quickly iterate client ideas.
- Systems & infrastructure literacy – Working knowledge of Linux/Unix environments, container orchestration (Kubernetes), databases (PostgreSQL or equivalent), and messaging systems (Kafka or equivalent).
- Cloud platform experience – Practical experience with at least one major cloud provider (AWS, GCP, or Azure), including deploying and operating workloads in production.
- Client‑facing delivery experience – Demonstrated ability to work directly with external clients or partners in a technical delivery capacity.
- Project delivery mindset – Experience delivering technical projects end‑to‑end.
- Banking / Financial Services experience – Familiarity with retail banking, payments, ledgers, or regulatory environments.
- Cloud architecture certifications – AWS Solutions Architect, GCP Professional Cloud Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or equivalent.
- Highly competitive salary
- Pension plan (match up to 5%)
- Life insurance—three times annual salary
- Competitive maternity (six months fully paid) and paternity leave (four weeks fully paid)
- Shared parental leave (matched to our maternity leave for the same point in time)
- 25 days holiday and bank holidays
- Flexible working hours
- Cycle‑to‑work scheme
- Electric car scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Access to outstanding learning materials and courses
- Sports and hobby clubs, subsidised by Thought Machine
- All the latest tech you need
- Start the day properly with fresh fruit and cereals
- Huge range of healthy (and not‑so‑healthy) snacks, smoothies and drinks
- A talented and experienced team as your colleagues
- An environment where we encourage learning and progress
- Two charity days a year
- Weekly food pop‑up
We actively hire candidates who demonstrate technical excellence in their field and welcome people of all ages and backgrounds, providing everyone with equal access to professional development. You are encouraged to apply even if your experience doesn't accurately match the job description. We also encourage applications from those with different abilities, including candidates with ADHD, autism, dyslexia or dyspraxia.
Forward Deployed Engineer employer: Thought Machine
Thought Machine is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration. With a commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive learning opportunities, competitive benefits including generous parental leave, and a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. Our Lisbon Engineering Hub is a dynamic space where you can thrive alongside talented colleagues while contributing to groundbreaking technology in the fintech sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Forward Deployed Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the fintech space. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone in the industry. You never know who might have a lead on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those using Python or Go. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and sets you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to cloud platforms and systems integration. We want you to feel confident and ready to tackle any challenge that comes your way!
✨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 our awesome team at Thought Machine!
We think you need these skills to ace Forward Deployed Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Technical Skills:Make sure to highlight your hands-on experience with Python or Go in your application. We want to see how you've used these skills in real-world scenarios, so don't hold back on the details!
Tailor Your Application:Take a moment to customise your application for the Forward Deployed Engineer role. Mention specific projects or experiences that align with our mission to rid banks of legacy technology. This shows us you're genuinely interested!
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!
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’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thought Machine
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Python or Go skills, as well as your knowledge of Linux/Unix environments and cloud platforms like AWS or GCP. Be ready to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects, especially in client-facing roles.
✨Understand the Client's Needs
Before the interview, research Thought Machine's clients and their industries. Think about how you can translate business requirements into technical solutions. Being able to demonstrate this understanding will show that you're not just a techie but also a problem solver.
✨Prepare for Real-World Scenarios
Expect to tackle some practical problems during the interview. Brush up on debugging and troubleshooting techniques, especially in distributed systems. Practising coding challenges related to integrations and data pipelines can give you an edge.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll need to communicate complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Prepare examples of how you've successfully done this in the past, and be ready to explain your thought process during the interview.
