Forward Deployed Software Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA
Forward Deployed Software Engineer jobs in Seattle are in strong demand, concentrated in South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, and the Eastside tech corridor, across cloud infrastructure, enterprise software, and defense technology. Companies hiring right now include OpenAI, Atlassian, and Databricks. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Working at Atlassian
Atlassians can choose where they work – whether in an office, from home, or a combination of the two. That way, Atlassians have more control over supporting their family, personal goals, and other priorities. We can hire people in any country where we have a legal entity.
Your future team
As a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) at Atlassian, you’ll be at the forefront of applied AI, working directly with customers and cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, AI-powered solutions. The FDE team partners with top organizations across industries, helping them leverage Atlassian’s AI capabilities to solve complex, real-world problems. You’ll collaborate with product, engineering, and design, rapidly growing your technical and domain expertise while making a tangible impact on business outcomes. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role for those who thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and are passionate about shaping the future of AI-powered teamwork.
Responsibilities:What you’ll do
As a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, you will:
Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI/ML-powered solutions tailored to customer needs.
Architect and implement robust application integrations using Python, JavaScript, or similar languages, with a focus on APIs, microservices, and enterprise-scale systems.
Drive data-driven solution development by analyzing complex datasets to extract insights and inform product direction.
Champion the adoption of AI-augmented workflow automation within customer environments, maximizing business value and operational efficiency.
Oversee the end-to-end deployment of AI solutions into production, ensuring continuous evaluation, monitoring, and improvement.
Navigate risk and compliance requirements, including AI risk assessment, data privacy (GDPR), and regulatory frameworks.
Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, creating concise artifacts for peers, partners, and leadership.
Align technical solutions with business objectives, setting a clear vision for technological progress and measurable results.
At Atlassian, we strive to design equitable, explainable, and competitive compensation programs. We follow consistent hiring practices and account for each candidate's skills, knowledge, and experience when setting base pay within the range.
Please visit go.atlassian.com/payzones for more information on which locations are included in each of our geographic pay zones. However, please confirm the zone for your specific location with your recruiter.
This role may also be eligible for benefits, bonuses, commissions, and equity.
Pay Ranges:In The United States, we have three geographic pay zones. For this role, our current base pay ranges for new hires in each zone are:
Zone A: $209,700 - $273,775
Zone B: $188,730 - $246,398
Zone C: $174,051 - $227,233
Qualifications:On the first day, we'll expect you to have:
10+ years of experience in backend software development.
5+ years of experience delivering impactful AI/ML solutions in production environments, including experience as a founding or forward-deployed engineer in 0-to-1 product development.
Deep expertise in applied AI/ML, including generative AI, LLMs, and agent-based frameworks.
Proficiency in Python, JavaScript, or similar languages, and experience with APIs, microservices, and enterprise integration.
Demonstrated ability to solve complex, ambiguous problems and thrive in rapidly changing environments.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience influencing cross-functional teams without formal authority.
Experience with AI risk assessment, data privacy, and compliance (e.g., GDPR).
Strategic and innovative thinking, with a track record of aligning technical solutions to business goals.
It's great, but not required, if you have:
Experience with Atlassian Intelligence, Rovo AI, or AI-powered Atlassian features.
Familiarity with regulated industries (e.g., finance, healthcare).
Experience deploying AI solutions to complex production systems at scale.
Prior experience mentoring or leading engineering teams.
Benefits & Perks
Atlassian offers a wide range of perks and benefits designed to support you, your family and to help you engage with your local community. Our offerings include health and wellbeing resources, paid volunteer days, and so much more. To learn more, visit go.atlassian.com/perksandbenefits.
About Atlassian
At Atlassian, we're motivated by a common goal: to unleash the potential of every team. Our software products help teams all over the planet and our solutions are designed for all types of work. Team collaboration through our tools makes what may be impossible alone, possible together.
We believe that the unique contributions of all Atlassians create our success. To ensure that our products and culture continue to incorporate everyone's perspectives and experience, we never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
To provide you the best experience, we can support with accommodations or adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Simply inform our Recruitment team during your conversation with them.
To learn more about our culture and hiring process, visit go.atlassian.com/crh.
In line with local law, identity verification (which may include use of biometric data) is a condition of employment with Atlassian for employment fraud purposes.
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Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software12
- Artificial Intelligence3
- Banking & Financial Services3
- Science & Research1
- Telecommunications1
Forward Deployed Software Engineer Jobs in Seattle: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a forward deployed software engineer job in Seattle?
Focus your search on South Lake Union and the Eastside corridor, where cloud platforms, enterprise SaaS companies, and defense contractors concentrate their engineering teams. Employers in these sectors favor candidates with hands-on deployment experience, strong customer-facing communication skills, and familiarity with large-scale distributed systems. Building a portfolio that shows real-world implementation work, not just software development, gives you a clear edge in Seattle's market.
Which companies hire forward deployed software engineers in Seattle?
Employers hiring forward deployed software engineers in Seattle right now include OpenAI, Atlassian, and Databricks, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Seattle's hiring mix leans toward hyperscale cloud providers, defense technology firms, and enterprise software companies that embed engineers directly with strategic customers.
Are there remote forward deployed software engineer jobs in Seattle?
Yes, though with limits, since the role by nature requires on-site deployment and direct customer engagement, making fully remote positions uncommon. About 64% of forward deployed software engineer openings tied to Seattle are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the portion of the work tied to internal tooling, pre-deployment scoping, and documentation. Customer-facing implementation and integration work almost always requires a physical presence.
How can I get a forward deployed software engineer job in Seattle with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Seattle is through solutions engineering or technical support roles at mid-size SaaS companies in South Lake Union, where teams regularly promote internally into deployment-focused positions. Targeting companies that run structured apprenticeship or rotational programs gives you structured exposure to customer environments. Building projects that demonstrate API integration, troubleshooting, and client-side configuration will distinguish you from candidates with a pure development background.
Which industries hire the most forward deployed software engineers in Seattle?
The sectors hiring the most forward deployed software engineers in Seattle are Technology & Software, Artificial Intelligence, and Banking & Financial Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Seattle's concentration of cloud computing giants and defense technology contractors drives particularly high demand, as those employers routinely embed engineers with enterprise and government customers for complex, long-cycle deployments.
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See All 29 Forward Deployed Software Engineer Jobs in Seattle
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