Apple

Forward Deployed Engineer

Apple$130K — $180K *
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in Forward Deployed Engineering or similar technical roles
  • Strong skills in full-stack development, especially in Python and JavaScript/Node.js
  • Familiar with SQL, relational databases, and data analytics workflows
  • Understanding of AI/ML concepts and LLM system lifecycles
  • Experience collaborating with data scientists and researchers
  • Knowledge of REST APIs, GraphQL, and microservices architectures
  • Excellent communication and ability to work in dynamic environments

Responsibilities

  • Engage closely with Sales teams to identify and translate business challenges into engineering solutions
  • Develop and prototype AI-driven applications to enhance Sales operations
  • Collaborate with data science and product management teams to shape AI insight platform
  • Integrate customer feedback to continuously refine engineering solutions
  • Facilitate the transition from consulting to self-service software solutions
  • Navigate ambiguity and define actionable roadmaps for AI initiatives
  • Utilize AI-assisted tools for efficient prototyping and development

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional development and growth
  • Collaborative work environment with exposure to cutting-edge technology
  • Access to a network of top-tier technical and sales professionals
  • Potential for influencing the direction of AI integration
  • Chance to work on impactful projects directly affecting customers and sales outcomes
Full Job Description
Apple's US Decision Intelligence (DI) team is looking for a talented individual who is passionate about crafting, implementing, and operating AI solutions that have a direct and measurable impact on Apple Sales and its customers.

We're looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) who thrives at the intersection of business and engineering - someone who can sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Sales teams, translate ambiguous business problems into shippable code, and bring those learnings back to shape the roadmap of our internal AI-driven insight platform. This role is the connective tissue between Sales, our data science team, Product Management, and the software and AI engineers building the platform. You will spend your time roughly evenly between embedded user engagement and hands-on engineering, building prototypes that solve real Sales problems today and influencing what becomes a first-class platform capability tomorrow.

5+ years of experience in Forward Deployed Engineering, Solutions Architecture, full-stack product engineering, or a related highly technical, cross-functional role. Demonstrated customer obsession and product thinking - ability to act as a technical partner to internal customers and translate vague requirements into concrete engineering specifications. Strong full-stack engineering skills, with proficiency in Python and JavaScript/Node.js, and the ability to ship working prototypes end-to-end across backend, data, and frontend layers. Familiarity with SQL and relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, Snowflake) and the ability to navigate analytics workflows and data pipelines. Functional literacy in AI/ML concepts - you understand the lifecycle of LLM-powered systems (prompts, retrieval, evaluation, inference) and can discuss the engineering trade-offs involved. Demonstrated experience partnering with applied scientists, data scientists, or researchers - you can navigate the ambiguity of research-style workflows and operationalize prototype code into production-grade services. Working knowledge of REST APIs, GraphQL, microservices, and distributed systems architectures. Comfortable leveraging AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Claude Code) to accelerate prototyping, code generation, and documentation, and able to critically review and validate AI-generated output before it ships. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the platform to executive leadership, partner teams, frontline Sales users, and the broader engineering community. Demonstrated ability to navigate extreme ambiguity, define roadmaps where none existed, and influence without direct authority. Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, constantly evolving business environment. B.S. degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience supporting Sales, Operations, and Finance stakeholders, and a track record of translating commercial workflows into software. Hands-on experience building or integrating LLM-powered or agentic AI applications, including prompt design, retrieval pipelines, and evaluation harnesses. Familiarity with data science tooling such as Dataiku, Snowflake, Airflow, or Python-based analytics pipelines. Experience with full-stack web frameworks, including Node.js/Express.js, Apollo GraphQL, and React or similar frontend technologies. Experience designing tools, SDKs, or APIs with self-service adoption as a first-class constraint - championing the transition from a consulting model to a self-service model. Hands-on experience with containerized environments using Docker and Kubernetes. Familiarity with observability and tracing tools such as Langfuse, PagerDuty, or equivalent LLM call tracing platforms. Comfortable shipping prototype code that may be replaced by platform features as patterns mature. A background in bridging research-heavy environments with production engineering teams. Advanced Degree (MS) in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field is preferred.

About Apple

Apple is a corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. Apple provides many products and services, including iPhone; iPad; iPod; Mac; Apple TV; a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications; the iOS and OS X operating systems; iCloud; and accessories, service, and support offerings. It sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, direct sales force and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers to the consumer and also sells third-party iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod compatible products, including application software and accessories through its online and retail stores. Introduced in 1984, the Macintosh was the first widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). That feature and others such as an improved floppy drive design and a low-cost hard drive that made data retrieval faster helped Apple cultivate a reputation for innovation. Apple was named as the most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world from 2008 to 2012 by the Fortune magazine. The company was founded by Steven Paul Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Gerald Wayne on April 1, 1976, and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Apple Careers

Join Apple, a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work. Our ever-expanding global team is at the forefront of innovation and leadership in the tech industry. At Apple, we're not just building products—we're crafting the kind of wonder that revolutionizes entire industries. It's the diversity of our people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Work You’ll Do Embark on a journey with Apple’s market-leading team to help some of the world’s most influential companies navigate their path to digital mastery with cutting-edge technology and services. Transform industries and touch lives with your unique ideas at Apple. Here, you’ll lead through a unique position at the intersection of technology, creativity, and robust industry expertise. Collaborate with a global team of professionals who are at the top of their game in technology and design. Apple isn’t just a company, it’s a community of innovators and passionate thinkers. Introducing the Apple Innovation and Leadership Initiative We are building a market-leading team to drive our efforts in delivering groundbreaking solutions and services. At Apple, job opportunities are abundant, offering you the chance to explore diverse roles from engineering to marketing, all designed to empower your career growth. Do Innovative Work Join the largest group of creative and technical experts in the world—professionals dedicated to redefining what’s possible through technology and innovation. Deliver targeted solutions through a depth and breadth of expertise that’s unmatched, driving forward our commitment to excellence and leadership in every project we undertake. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in a wide range of projects utilizing Apple’s technology and resources. Harness the unparalleled capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development that only Apple can offer. Future-Proof Your Career Advance your career with limitless opportunities at Apple. Go as far as your ambition takes you with unmatched training, development, and certification support. Explore Discover how Apple is leading the way in tech innovation: [With iOS] Businesses can streamline operations and enhance customer interactions... READ MORE Smart home technology integration that sets the standard for convenience and security... READ MORE The Apple Experience Our combined service capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development help clients overcome challenges and lead transformation in their industries. Clients worldwide look to Apple for new strategies and solutions that drive growth and innovation in the digital era. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Whether you’re seeking a professional role, an internship, or a leadership position, Apple offers a variety of employment opportunities. SEARCH APPLE JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. See what exciting and rewarding opportunities await at Apple, a company committed to diversity, innovation, and leadership. Explore job opportunities, employment benefits, and the culture of growth and innovation at Apple. Prepare your resume, hone your interview skills, and ready yourself for a career at one of the most prestigious companies in the world. Join us in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Learn more about Apple
Size
154,000 employees
Market Cap
$2,074.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$63.9 billion
Founded
1976
5 Year Trend
+11.5%
Revenue
$294.1 billion
NASDAQ

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