Staff Forward Deployed Engineer – AI-Native (Hybrid) at JetBrains

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Job Description

At JetBrains, code is our passion. Ever since we started, back in 2000, we have strived to make the strongest, most effective developer tools on earth. By automating routine checks and corrections, our tools speed up production, freeing developers to grow, discover, and create.

We just unveiled JetBrains Central, a platform for agent-driven software development that connects tools, agents, and infrastructure. It enables automated AI workflows to run, be monitored, and be managed across teams – with clear visibility into results, costs, and performance.

JetBrains Central provides three core capabilities:
Governance and control: Policy enforcement, identity and access management, observability, auditability, and cost attribution for agent-driven work. Some of these functionalities are already available via the JetBrains Central Console.
Agent execution infrastructure: Cloud agent runtimes and computation provisioning that allow agents to run reliably across development environments.
Agent optimization and context: Shared semantic context across repositories and projects, enabling agents to access relevant knowledge, and task routing to the most appropriate models or tools.

Inside the Professional Services department, we are building a team of Forward Deployed Engineers to help our customers adopt AI-native development with JetBrains Central and enable JetBrains consulting partners to transform their customers’ AI-native software development lifecycle.

About the role

As a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, you will work directly with early adopter customers to deploy JetBrains Central platform into complex enterprise environments and help them move from experimental AI usage to governed, scalable AI-native development.

You will act as a trusted advisor to customer engineering teams and consulting partners, while also mentoring other Forward Deployed Engineers and helping with complex deployments. In this role, you will help establish best practices for enterprise AI adoption and influence how organizations implement AI-driven software development.

This role is often a strong fit for engineers who have previously served as Principal or Staff Engineers, Heads of Engineering, CTOs, or Solutions Architects and who enjoy working directly with customers while staying deeply involved with complex technical systems.

This role combines consulting, architecture, and hands-on engineering. Your work in the field will directly influence how our platform evolves and how enterprises adopt AI-driven development.

You will work directly with the world’s most innovative companies — our client base includes 420 of the Fortune 500 — ensuring they maximize the value of their JetBrains investments.

What you’ll do

Deploy JetBrains Central platform into enterprise development environments, CI/CD systems, and internal developer platforms.
Help organizations transition from ad-hoc AI experimentation to governed AI-native development workflows.
Implement enterprise AI governance, including security policies, access management, and data privacy controls.
Enable observability for AI-driven development to help organizations understand their AI usage and its impact on productivity, as well as their code-generation patterns.
Design sustainable AI adoption strategies, including usage controls and cost visibility across multiple model providers.
Integrate our cloud-based agent execution layer, allowing AI agents to run securely and at scale.
Collaborate closely with JetBrains product teams to shape the platform based on real-world deployments and customer feedback.
Create delivery frameworks and train JetBrains partners to deliver the desired scope of service.
Mentor and support other Forward Deployed Engineers, sharing architectural expertise and helping to scale the team’s deployment practices.

You will thrive in this role if you are

A consultant at heart who can communicate effectively with both engineers and technical leadership.
Able to see the whole picture of the software development lifecycle across developer tools, infrastructure, APIs, and cloud systems.
Experienced at integrating complex software systems into enterprise environments.
Curious about the future of AI agents and AI-native software development.
Comfortable working with early adopters and overcoming ambiguous technical challenges.
Motivated to mentor other engineers and contribute to building a new technical discipline.

What you will bring

Experience in software-related projects, ideally in a customer-facing or consulting environment.
Familiarity with Java or Python.
Experience building or integrating developer platforms, infrastructure systems, or software solutions.
Familiarity with modern development workflows (CI/CD, developer environments, internal developer platforms, etc.).
Experience working directly with customers or technical stakeholders.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to operate in fast-evolving technical environments.
Ability and desire to travel to meet customers.

These would be a plus, but are not blockers

Experience with industry-specific solutions (fintech, telco, retail, etc.)
Experience with AI/LLM platforms, agent frameworks, or AI-assisted development tools.
Experience in solutions engineering, consulting, or forward-deployed engineering roles.
Familiarity with the JetBrains ecosystem or developer productivity tooling.

#LI-KP1

We are an equal opportunity employer

We know great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. That’s why we do our best to create an open and inclusive workplace – one that welcomes everyone regardless of their background, identity, religion, age, accessibility needs, or orientation.

We process the data provided in your job application in accordance with the Recruitment Privacy Policy.

Benefits & Perks

Health & Wellness

Health Insurance

JetBrains provides a medical insurance allowance covering employees and their families, with coverage details varying by location.

Dental Insurance

Dental coverage is included as part of JetBrains' health benefits package.

Vision Insurance

Vision coverage is offered to employees as part of the JetBrains benefits package.

Mental Health Benefits

JetBrains provides easy access to professional mental health services to support employee wellbeing.

Fitness Stipend

JetBrains offers a sports benefit that provides access to an on-site gym or a sports club stipend depending on location.

Financial

401(k) / Retirement Plan

Retirement savings plan available to JetBrains employees in the US; equivalent country-specific plans apply in other regions.

Performance Bonus

JetBrains rewards top performers with recognition and additional compensation tied to performance.

Relocation Assistance

JetBrains provides relocation support to make moving for a new role as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Commuter Benefits

Time Off

PTO / Vacation

JetBrains offers generous paid time off, including extra time off days beyond standard vacation.

Sick Days

Paid sick leave is available for employees who need time off for illness or medical appointments.

Paid Holidays

JetBrains observes paid holidays based on each employee's local country and office.

Flexible Schedule

JetBrains operates a hybrid model with flexible working hours, allowing employees to work from the office, from home, or abroad.

Remote & Equipment

WFA Allowance (Days/Year)

JetBrains employees can work remotely from anywhere in the world for up to 30 days per year.

Meal Stipend

JetBrains provides a hot meal at the office or a lunch allowance on workdays, depending on location.

Company Equipment

JetBrains provides employees with a custom work station tailored to their setup needs.

Family & Care

Caregiver Policy

Employees in Germany receive up to 10 days of fully paid carer's leave per year.

Parental Leave

Leave is offered to both mothers and fathers after the birth of a child.

Professional Growth

Learning & Development Budget

JetBrains funds access to conferences, courses, and language classes, plus customized development tracks for career growth.

Conference Attendance

JetBrains funds attendance at industry conferences as part of its broader learning and development offerings.

Defined Career Pathways

JetBrains provides customized development tracks that let employees shape personalized career growth paths.

Culture & Perks

Free Snacks & Drinks

JetBrains offices provide complimentary snacks and beverages to in-office employees.

Team Events & Social Budget

JetBrains hosts company-wide celebrations and team gatherings as part of its internal events program.

Employee Resource Groups

Employee resource groups include LGBTQIA+, Neurodivergent, Cultural Connect, Parents, Women's Empowerment, Mental Health, and Remote Employees groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I be based to work at JetBrains?

JetBrains runs a Flexible Hybrid model, so most roles are tied to one of its 15 offices across Europe (including Amsterdam, Prague, Munich, Berlin, Belgrade, Warsaw, Madrid, London, and Cyprus), the Americas (Foster City, Marlton, and Waltham), and Shanghai. Even roles posted as remote are usually locked to a specific country, so check the location listed on a job before applying.

Do I need to be a developer to work at JetBrains?

No. JetBrains hires across engineering, design, UX research, marketing, sales, and operations, and its careers page is explicit that you do not have to write code to be a match. Every hire, technical or not, is asked to complete a test assignment, which is how the team sees the actual skills a role needs in action.

What benefits does JetBrains offer?

Alongside hybrid flexibility and up to 30 days a year working abroad, JetBrains provides in-office meals, snacks, and drinks, a gym subsidy, a learning and development budget for conferences, books, and courses, and a top-spec equipment setup. Health, dental, vision, mental-health support, pension, and parental leave are included, though the exact coverage depends on the country you are based in.

What is the interview process like at JetBrains?

It runs in stages: an application with a CV and short cover letter, an application review, a recruiter call, and a team interview. You are then given a test assignment, for any role and not just engineering, which can usually be done from home. Potential teammates review it, followed by a final interview and a reference check with three contacts before a decision is made.

Who is JetBrains a good fit for?

JetBrains looks for people who raise the standard around them, care about why the work matters, and are comfortable owning decisions without close supervision. Having stayed private and profitable for more than two decades, the company builds without short-term external pressure, so it suits people who want the space to take their time and get things right rather than chase quarterly targets.