Forward deployed engineering
Set up an engineer beside your business. Keep the capability.
Set up a forward deployed engineer within your business: agree the role, onboard them to approved systems and establish a delivery rhythm around real operational priorities. Combine hands-on AI and software delivery with coaching and a clear transfer of ownership.
Agree the scope, access, timeline and price before committing.
The starting point
Your business needs a forward deployed engineer, with clear onboarding, ownership and a delivery rhythm around an important initiative.
Companies that need sustained help connecting strategy to delivery, supporting internal builders or moving an important operational workflow into everyday use.
An engineer setup charter, approved onboarding, a prioritised backlog and delivered improvements your team can own.
When another starting point may fit better
If you need one bounded deliverable, a project may be easier to scope. If the gap is a shared skill or an unresolved decision, consider training or consulting first.
Choose the outcome an engineer can own with your team.
Choose a starting point and inspect a sample of the decisions, review evidence and handover it involves.
Set up your forward deployed engineer
Define the business problem, internal sponsor, access and first milestones. Set up the backlog, team onboarding, review cadence and handover responsibilities before delivery starts.
A forward deployed engineer setup charter
A business wants an engineer working beside operations, but responsibilities, access and the first goal are unclear.
- Business sponsor
- Name the person who prioritises work and resolves cross-team decisions.
- Onboarding and access
- List approved tools, repositories and data; assign an owner to grant and revoke access.
- First milestone
- Choose one operational outcome, its review evidence and the initial backlog.
- Working cadence
- Agree demonstrations, review and release authority, availability and knowledge transfer.
Walk through the first task with the sponsor and engineer. Confirm access, review decisions, escalation and the owner who will retain the work.
A practical onboarding and delivery setup that both the business and engineer can follow.
Selected example: Set up your forward deployed engineer.
Tangible outputs
Delivered improvements and capability that stays with you.
- An engineer setup charter, onboarding checklist, sponsor and delivery cadence
- A prioritised backlog with regular delivery demonstrations
- Systems, tests and documentation in your approved environment
- A transition plan, trained owners and a review of delivered outcomes
How to judge the result
Review delivered backlog items and operating documentation with the internal owner. Include a task that an internal colleague can now run, change or support independently.
Scope and responsibilities to agree
This is a scoped consulting and engineering engagement. On-site or remote arrangements, availability, support expectations, confidentiality and access are agreed in writing. It is not a promise of unlimited delivery or round-the-clock support.
Set up the engineer, deliver beside the team and transfer ownership.
- 01
Set up the role and working environment
Agree the engineer’s responsibilities, availability and first goal. Prepare tool and repository access, internal onboarding, review owners and a bounded starting backlog.
- 02
Embed and deliver
Join the team's delivery rhythm, pair with its owners and ship work in small reviewable increments.
- 03
Hand over with intention
Build internal ownership throughout the engagement. Review what continues, what stops and what support remains.
For the first conversation
Bring a starting point, not a finished brief.
- Name the internal sponsor and the first goal.
- List the onboarding, tool access, review owners and delivery rhythm the engineer needs.
- Describe the capability you want the team to keep after the engagement.
Use general or approved examples. We’ll agree any deeper access before reviewing private systems.
Free editable notes for your team. No email needed.
Before you commit
Your questions, answered.
Is this staff augmentation?
It can include hands-on delivery, but the engagement also covers problem definition, integration and knowledge transfer. The responsibilities and decision rights are agreed before work begins.
Can you collaborate with our engineering team?
Yes. We work within your repositories, review process and release authority, with a clear internal sponsor and approved access.
Can you help us set up the role before delivery starts?
Yes. The initial scope can cover the role charter, sponsor, approved access, onboarding checklist, first backlog and delivery cadence. Recruiting an employee is a separate recruitment engagement; embedded delivery and any ongoing support are scoped explicitly.
What shapes the investment in an embedded engineer?
Availability, the initial goal, team responsibilities, access and working arrangement shape the proposal. We state the delivery rhythm, review points and payment schedule. On-site arrangements and support coverage are agreed explicitly.
Can we begin with one bounded goal?
Yes. Start with a charter, sponsor and one outcome the engineer can deliver beside the team. Review working progress and dependencies at agreed milestones. You can then decide whether to extend the engagement or hand the work back internally.
Who sets priorities and approves release?
Your sponsor sets business priorities and the agreed technical owner retains release authority. The engineer works inside your repositories and review process. Decision rights, escalation, pairing and the time needed from colleagues are included in the charter.
Make progress before a bigger commitment
Take one useful step with your team.
Name the internal sponsor and the first goal. This gives you something concrete to discuss, whether you work independently or bring us in.
Use the free planning guide ↗Prefer to prepare it yourself?
Workflow owner operating kit
An automation works, but nobody knows what to do when it stops. Review an illustrative example and the requirements before choosing this starting point.
Explore the toolkit preview ↗Your next decision
Where would an engineer beside your team make the difference?
Describe the initiative, the people involved and the progress you need. We’ll agree responsibilities and a bounded first goal together.
A specific task in mind?
Inspect a focused first engagement before enquiring.
The enquiry is free. Paid work starts after an agreed scope and proposal.