Senior Forward Deployed Engineering Manager, AWS Forward Deployed Engineering
Amazon Web Services (AWS)London, England, United Kingdom
Added 19 Aug · still live
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£55,000
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role may qualify for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 1121 is an eligible occupation, but we classified this role with low confidence (34% match). If the code is right — and Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a licensed sponsor — it should qualify, but double-check the occupation eligibility rules against the actual role.
About the role
Description
AWS has formed a new Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) team dedicated to embedding AI Engineers and Scientists directly inside strategic enterprise customer environments to help design, build, and deploy AI-powered production systems. We don’t build from a distance—we sit with customers, work in their infrastructure, and deliver production-grade AI solutions that transform how they operate. This initiative is scaling rapidly.
A Senior Forward Deployed Engineering Manager (Senior FDE Manager) leads multiple pods of FDEs across several strategic enterprise customers, defining the delivery model, engineering standards, and talent strategy for the FDE practice at scale. This is not a Solutions Architect management role and not a consulting engagement manager role. Senior FDE Managers own organizational-level outcomes — they set the technical direction across multiple concurrent customer programs, build and scale the FDE team, and drive the mechanisms that ensure consistent engineering excellence and measurable business impact across the entire portfolio.
Senior FDE Managers operate at org-level scope. They lead 15–30+ engineers, influence technical decisions across multiple customer engagements and AWS teams simultaneously, and define what "great" looks like for forward-deployed AI engineering management. They represent the FDE practice to AWS senior leadership and customer C-suite executives, balancing strategic vision with operational execution.
Key job responsibilities
AWS has formed a new Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) team dedicated to embedding AI Engineers and Scientists directly inside strategic enterprise customer environments to help design, build, and deploy AI-powered production systems. We don’t build from a distance—we sit with customers, work in their infrastructure, and deliver production-grade AI solutions that transform how they operate. This initiative is scaling rapidly.
A Senior Forward Deployed Engineering Manager (Senior FDE Manager) leads multiple pods of FDEs across several strategic enterprise customers, defining the delivery model, engineering standards, and talent strategy for the FDE practice at scale. This is not a Solutions Architect management role and not a consulting engagement manager role. Senior FDE Managers own organizational-level outcomes — they set the technical direction across multiple concurrent customer programs, build and scale the FDE team, and drive the mechanisms that ensure consistent engineering excellence and measurable business impact across the entire portfolio.
Senior FDE Managers operate at org-level scope. They lead 15–30+ engineers, influence technical decisions across multiple customer engagements and AWS teams simultaneously, and define what "great" looks like for forward-deployed AI engineering management. They represent the FDE practice to AWS senior leadership and customer C-suite executives, balancing strategic vision with operational execution.
Key job responsibilities
- Lead the FDE delivery organization. Own delivery across multiple customer engagements and FDE pods. Staff and structure teams for optimal customer coverage. Define engagement models, staffing strategies, and delivery cadences. Ensure consistent engineering quality across all active programs. Requires up to 30 – 50% travel.
- Define technical strategy and standards. Set the technical direction for the most complex customer AI programs spanning your organization. Align technical strategy with adjacent AWS teams. Be a key influencer for strategic decisions, bringing technology and industry context to business decisions. Resolve escalations and drive closure with peers, Directors, and stakeholders.
- 10+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 5+ years of engineering organization management experience (managing managers or large teams)
- 8+ years of leading design or architecture of new and existing systems
- Experience defining technical strategy and delivery standards for an engineering organization
- Experience managing teams across multiple concurrent programs or product lines
- Experience managing engineering teams in customer-facing or forward-deployed environments at scale
- Experience building or leading organizations delivering production AI or ML platforms
- Track record of developing engineering managers and senior technical leaders
- Experience representing engineering to executive leadership (VP/C-suite level)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfort working in customer-facing environments
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
Company - AWS EMEA SARL (UK Branch)
Job ID: A10501253
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Amazon Web Services (AWS), so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
SOC 1121 · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · ~406k in sampleP25 £43kP75 £85k
£31kmedian £59kgoing rate £55k£122k
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Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Amazon Web Services (AWS) holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 1121 going rate of £55,000. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.