Forward Deployed Engineer
An engineer who builds inside your team.
This is for when you need something built but can't write a detailed brief yet. We join your Slack and GitHub and build it with you in a fixed-price sprint of 2 to 12 weeks.
Done by the studio that built Shopper Zero, septHQ, ZeroCross and other products of its own.
See the productsWhat is a Forward Deployed Engineer?
A Forward Deployed Engineer, or FDE, works inside your team and builds a system that fits the tools and people you already have. The term comes from Palantir, the data software company.
An FDE builds a working version first, so you can judge it by using it.
How an FDE sprint works with us
Sprints of 2 to 12 weeks at a fixed price
We work in your Slack and GitHub
Working software, live when the sprint ends
You keep the code, accounts and hosting
Pricing
Pay for one sprint, or work with us monthly as a Technical Partner.
Project-based
Custom
A sprint usually costs $1.5K to $25K. We fix the scope and price before we start.
Ongoing
$5-8K/mo
Technical Partner. 80 hours of hands-on engineering a month, plus advice.
Tell us what to build
Describe the problem. Within 48 hours we send a sprint plan with a fixed price.
Common questions
What is a Forward Deployed Engineer?
A Forward Deployed Engineer, or FDE, is a software engineer who works inside a client's team and builds a working system for their business. The term comes from Palantir, the data software company.
How is an FDE different from a contractor or consultant?
A contractor builds what is on a list, and a consultant writes recommendations. An FDE works inside your team, makes decisions as they come up and leaves you with running software that you own.
When should I hire an FDE instead of a regular agency?
Hire an FDE when the problem is not clear enough for a detailed brief, or when the new system must connect to the tools you already use. It also helps when you need proof quickly.
How does it start, and what does it cost?
Describe the problem in the form, and within 48 hours we send a fixed-price sprint plan. A sprint runs 2 to 12 weeks and usually costs $1,500 to $25,000, and the Technical Partner plan costs $5,000 to $8,000 a month.
Who is this for?
It suits founders whose app now needs to hold up for real customers, and leaders who want a working version before they commit. It also suits agencies with no engineers in-house.