Forward deployed engineers are becoming one of the most important roles in enterprise AI. AWS, OpenAI, Anthropic, Palantir, Databricks, Snowflake, and other technology companies are using these hybrid engineering and consulting professionals to turn AI platforms into practical customer outcomes.
In this Channel Insider explainer, Victoria Durgin examines what forward deployed engineers do, why AI adoption is driving demand for the role, and how MSPs and other channel partners can build similar capabilities. As enterprise AI becomes more customized, customers will need partners that can connect models with proprietary data, integrate AI into existing infrastructure, build agents and automations, address governance requirements, and continuously improve deployed systems.
Timestamps
00:00 What is a forward deployed engineer?
00:29 How Palantir pioneered the model
00:56 Why enterprise AI changed software deployment
01:19 Where AI business value comes from
01:43 The skills forward deployed engineers need
02:07 Why the role resembles channel partner work
02:26 The growing shortage of AI deployment expertise
02:51 How channel partners are becoming AI advisors
03:12 Building forward deployed engineering capabilities
03:44 Three questions solution providers should ask
04:20 What the trend means for enterprise AI
04:48 Why successful AI deployment will create an advantage
05:17 Share your perspective with Channel Insider





