PURPOSE
The Forward Deployment Engineer (FDE) is a client-facing, hands-on engineering role at the intersection of software development, AI deployment, and solution consulting. Working directly with enterprise customers across the UK and Europe, FDEs design, build, and deploy scalable, production-grade solutions that integrate Ithina’s platform into real-world operations.
This role bridges product innovation and customer impact—translating complex business requirements into robust, high-performance systems in live environments.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
Custom Solution Development
- Design and build integrations, APIs, AI models, and automated workflows aligned to client requirements and business outcomes.
Deployment & Production Scaling
- Deploy and scale solutions into secure, production environments, including cloud infrastructure, data pipelines, and system integrations.
Live Operations & Optimisation
- Troubleshoot live systems, resolve complex technical issues, and optimise performance, reliability, and scalability.
Customer Engagement & Delivery
- Lead technical workshops, gather requirements, and act as a trusted advisor to both technical and business stakeholders.
Enablement & Handover
- Deliver training, documentation, and knowledge transfer to ensure sustained adoption and client self-sufficient.
Success Measures
- Successful delivery of client deployments on time and to specification
- System performance targets (e.g., uptime, latency, scalability benchmarks)
- Customer adoption and usage growth post-deployment
- Contribution to pre-sales and solution design influencing revenue growth
- Customer satisfaction (e.g., NPS, retention, expansion opportunities)
- Establishment of scalable delivery best practices and Centres of Excellence
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Technical Mastery: Full-stack development (Python, TypeScript, Java), cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) AI/ML systems, distributed systems and data pipelines
- Problem Solving: Ability to work with incomplete specifications, rapidly prototype and iterate solutions
- Communication & Empathy: Translate complex technical issues into business language and manage client expectations
- Business & Compliance Awareness: Understand operational constraints, ROI-driven design ad regulatory frameworks like GDPR
- Ownership & Adaptability: Manage end-to-end deployments with autonomy, balancing multiple priorities
Core Competencies
Technical Delivery & Engineering Excellence
- Ability to design, build, and deploy scalable, production-grade systems
- Strong full-stack and cloud engineering capability
- Understanding of AI/ML integration and data pipelines
- Focus on reliability, performance, and security
Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking
- Comfortable working with incomplete or ambiguous requirements
- Ability to diagnose complex system issues in live environments
- Structured, hypothesis-driven troubleshooting approach
Customer-Centric Mindset
- Strong focus on delivering measurable business value
- Ability to understand customer operations and pain points
- Builds trust as a technical advisor
Communication & Translation Skills
- Explains complex technical concepts in simple, business-friendly terms
- Facilitates workshops and stakeholder discussions
- Manages expectations effectively across technical and non-technical audiences
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Works effectively across product, engineering, sales, and client teams
- Influences without authority
- Navigates multiple stakeholders and priorities
Ownership & Accountability
- Takes end-to-end responsibility for solution delivery
- Proactive in identifying risks and driving resolution
- Comfortable operating autonomously in client environments
Adaptability & Learning Agility
- Quickly learns new technologies, domains, and client environments
- Comfortable switching between projects and contexts
- Thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments (e.g., AI, IoT,
Why Join Ithina?
- Opportunity to drive growth in a high‑visibility role within a rapidly expanding global technology company.
- Work with some of the world’s most innovative and recognizable retail brands.
- Be part of a collaborative, ambitious team shaping the future of in‑store digital transformation.
