Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)

Salesforce is seeking a highly accomplished and senior-level Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to join its elite Public Sector team. This role demands a seasoned technologist who thrives working forward-deployed at customer sites, building bespoke solutions leveraging enterprise workflow orchestration platforms such as Regrello and API-led connectivity platforms such as MuleSoft, while also designing and delivering advanced AI/ML systems.

Mission Impact

• Deploy Cutting-Edge Data Science & Integration Innovation ,from API-led integration ecosystems to orchestrated operational workflows to advanced ML pipelines,directly at customer sites in defense, intelligence, and aerospace environments, accelerating mission transformation.
• Become a Trusted Partner Embedded with Mission Owners, working in classified and unclassified environments to deeply understand operational challenges and translate them into end-to-end data science and integration solutions using best-fit tooling.
• Drive Innovation at the Front Lines by serving as the connective bridge between customer missions and internal engineering teams, gathering frontline feedback to help co-design integration patterns, workflow templates, and data science capabilities that strengthen national security outcomes.
• Improve Efficiency, Mission-Readiness, and Trust by helping the U.S. and allied governments deploy integrated data technology stacks that deliver faster response times, better personnel utilization, and more effective logistics and asset management.
• Drive Tangible Outcomes through Hands-On Implementation, taking responsibility for end-to-end technical delivery of complex data pipelines, integration flows, and predictive models,personally writing critical code, configuring systems, and troubleshooting issues in the field while guiding junior team members.
• Build Transformative Data Science Solutions by taking primary ownership of designing, developing, and implementing high-quality, scalable production ML and analytics systems, including predictive models, intelligent automation pipelines, and LLM-augmented workflows.
• Engineer Bespoke Integration Architectures, designing and building custom API-led integrations using enterprise integration platforms,such as MuleSoft Anypoint Platform or equivalent middleware solutions,to ensure seamless connectivity across enterprise data sources, operational systems, and cloud environments in highly regulated settings.
• Orchestrate Complex Workflows, leveraging modern workflow automation and process orchestration platforms,such as Regrello or equivalent solutions,to model, automate, and optimize multi-stakeholder operational processes in manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, and mission operations contexts.
• Own the Entire Data Lifecycle- on-site with customers,from strategic data modeling to hands-on ETL/ELT pipeline construction, feature engineering, and integration strategy,ensuring data is always ready, optimized, and secure for advanced analytics and AI applications.
• Lead Rapid Prototyping and Iteration, developing proofs-of-concept and MVPs side-by-side with customer teams to demonstrate data science and integration capabilities and set the pace for rapid, mission-aligned delivery.

Mission Responsibilities

• Serve as the forward-deployed technical lead on high-profile customer engagements,designing, building, and deploying tailored data science and integration solutions for defense, intelligence, and aerospace missions on-site.
• Architect and implement enterprise integration solutions,using platforms such as MuleSoft Anypoint Platform or equivalent iPaaS tooling,including API design, development, and management across REST, SOAP, and event-driven integration patterns within secure customer environments.
• Design and deploy workflow automation solutions,leveraging platforms such as Regrello or equivalent orchestration tooling,to model complex operational processes, coordinate cross-functional teams, and surface data-driven insights at key mission decision points.
• Lead integration of AI/ML models, custom data pipelines, and automation flows that enable predictive maintenance, personnel planning, and mission-critical logistics decisions.
• Work with customer IT and security teams to accelerate Authority to Operate (ATO) and production go-lives per DoD IL5/IL6 and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Partner with internal product and engineering teams to co-develop integration patterns and data science capabilities informed by frontline customer feedback.
• Enable customers to adopt modern data platforms and integration middleware for field operations, asset visibility, command center analytics, and secure operational workflows.
• Mentor junior FDEs and share lessons learned with the broader engineering community to shape playbooks, integration templates, and reusable data science assets for government innovation.
• Translate mission priorities into actionable data and integration roadmaps aligned with agency strategy, presenting findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders.

What We're Looking For We're looking for a builder, a problem solver, and a mission-first leader who thrives in forward-deployed environments. The ideal candidate brings:

• 8+ years of experience in a hands-on, end-to-end delivery role for high-quality, scalable production solutions, ideally in customer-facing or field-deployed settings.
• Strong background in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related engineering discipline.
• Expert-level proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, SQL).
• Extensive hands-on experience building and deploying AI/ML solutions, including model development, MLOps pipelines, LLM integration, prompt engineering, and agentic frameworks (e.g., LangChain, LlamaIndex).
• Demonstrated expertise in enterprise integration platforms and API-led connectivity design, with experience in tools such as MuleSoft Anypoint Platform, Dell Boomi, Apigee, Azure API Management, or equivalent; direct MuleSoft experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated expertise in workflow orchestration and process automation platforms, with experience in tools such as Regrello, Temporal, Prefect, Apache Airflow, or equivalent; direct Regrello experience is a plus.
• Deep expertise in data modeling, processing, and analytics with demonstrable proficiency in enterprise data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, Redshift).
• A "get-things-done" attitude with a proven ability to deliver fast and impactfully in ambiguous, customer-site environments.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills,able to articulate complex data science and integration concepts to both technical and non-technical mission stakeholders.
• Proven ability to lead technical engagements, mentor junior FDEs, and own technical delivery end-to-end.
• Ability to travel 50-75% of the time to customer sites, including classified facilities.
• Must be a U.S. citizen (U.S. born or naturalized) living on U.S. soil who does not hold dual citizenship.
• Eligible for and willing to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance.