Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering - Munich
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for experienced engineering managers in AI and digital transformation has surged, with a 28% increase in job postings over the past year. This role stands out for its unique blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and leadership skills. To succeed, candidates will need a strong background in GTM, technical delivery, and team management, as well as the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. With Openai's commitment to AI research and deployment, this role offers a chance to be at the forefront of innovation. Before applying, candidates should be prepared to showcase their experience in high-pressure technical projects and their ability to drive business value through technical expertise.
Job Description
About the Role
The Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering role is a unique opportunity to lead a team of engineers at the forefront of AI research and deployment. As a key member of Openai's Forward Deployed Engineering team, you will partner with customers to turn research breakthroughs into production systems. This role entails leading high-stakes, ambiguous customer deployments and owning technical and business value outcomes end-to-end. You will grow a team that can operate under pressure and help Openai learn from the field.The Forward Deployed Engineering team operates at the intersection of customer delivery and core platform development. As a manager in this team, you will be responsible for driving technical and business value outcomes, as well as growing and developing your team. You will partner closely with Product, Research, Sales, and GTM to ensure fieldwork informs roadmap priorities, drives new exploration, and supports safe deployment at scale.
The success of this role will be measured by the team's ability to consistently ship high-quality products, deliver clear signal to Research and Product, and build a durable team and delivery model. You will be expected to operate with urgency in ambiguous or evolving environments and make fast, sound decisions under pressure.
What You Will Do
- Lead and grow a team of Forward Deployed Engineers delivering production systems with frontier models
- Own end-to-end delivery outcomes through clarity, speed, tight coordination, and technical quality
- Codify what works into tools, playbooks, and roadmap inputs that create leverage for both Openai and our wider developer community
- Notice early indicators and raise them with urgency, whether in product behavior, customer environments, or delivery practices
- Use judgment to distinguish what requires action and what does not
- Set a high bar for Forward Deployed Engineering performance and support each person's growth through direct, actionable feedback
- Define how we staff and support field teams that can scale without added complexity
- Partner with Product, Research, Sales, and GTM to ensure fieldwork informs roadmap priorities
- Develop and maintain a deep understanding of customer needs and market trends
- Drive technical and business value outcomes through the delivery of high-quality products
What We Are Looking For
- 8+ years of engineering or technical delivery experience, including 2+ years managing high-performing Forward Deployed Engineers or customer-facing engineers
- Experience leading high-pressure technical projects from prototype to production
- Ability to write and review production-grade code across frontend and backend using Javascript or Python
- Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to grow and develop a team
- Experience operating in ambiguous or evolving environments and making fast, sound decisions under pressure
- Ability to simplify complex work and make fast, sound decisions under pressure
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner with cross-functional teams
- Experience with GTM and technical delivery
- Strong understanding of AI and machine learning principles
Nice to Have
- Experience with cloud-based technologies and deployment
- Knowledge of agile development methodologies and version control systems
- Experience with data analytics and visualization tools
- Certification in engineering or a related field
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Opportunity to work with a leading AI research and deployment company
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment
- Professional development and growth opportunities
- Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
- Comprehensive health and wellness package
- Generous PTO and holiday policy
How to Stand Out
- Develop a strong understanding of GTM and technical delivery principles to stand out in this role.
- Be prepared to showcase your experience in high-pressure technical projects and your ability to drive business value through technical expertise.
- Emphasize your leadership and management skills, including your ability to grow and develop a team.
- Highlight your experience with AI and machine learning principles, as well as your ability to simplify complex work and make fast, sound decisions under pressure.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with cloud-based technologies and deployment, as well as your knowledge of agile development methodologies and version control systems.
- Showcase your ability to partner with cross-functional teams and drive technical and business value outcomes.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with data analytics and visualization tools, as well as your certification in engineering or a related field.
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