Sr Forward Deployed Engineer (Palantir Foundry & Custom Development)

Summary

Jacobs is an engineering and professional services company solving complex problems across cities, environments, infrastructure, and technology. The Mid-Senior Forward Deployed Engineer will independently turn ambiguous client problems into working solutions using Palantir Foundry and custom development, while technically guiding junior engineers across multiple projects. The role also involves client engagement, troubleshooting, cross-functional collaboration, and accountability for broader program outcomes such as schedule, cost, and certainty.

Responsibilities

• Own Solutions End-to-End — Take a rough problem statement and drive it to a working solution — including key design decisions — across Foundry-based and custom software, with minimal direction
• Lead Technically on Your Projects — Serve as the go-to technical resource for junior FDEs on your engagement — unblocking them, reviewing their work, and setting direction when priorities shift
• Support Multiple Projects — Carry an active workload across more than one project simultaneously, prioritizing effectively and context-switching between codebases, clients, and problem domains without dropping quality
• Move Fast, Stay Flexible — Operate comfortably in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment where priorities and client needs can shift mid-sprint — adapting without losing focus or output quality
• Originate Portfolio Patterns — Build with reuse in mind and create new patterns, frameworks, and standards — not just follow them — so your work strengthens the broader DPS portfolio
• Debug & Support — Troubleshoot complex issues in deployed solutions, respond to client and internal feedback, and support existing applications alongside new build work
• Deliver on the Program Outcome — Keep the client's broader program schedule, cost, and certainty in view on every build — accountable not just for shipping what was asked, but for whether your solution actually pulled in or protected the program's schedule, lowered its cost, or raised confidence in it
• Lead Client Conversations — Engage directly with client stakeholders on technical scope, feasibility, and trade-offs — comfortable pushing back or negotiating in real time
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally — Work alongside project managers, other developers, data scientists, and subject matter experts — both Jacobs-internal and client-facing — as a visible technical leader on every team you touch

Skills

• • 6+ years of relevant experience — seasoned individual contributors who prefer building over managing but are ready to lead technically
• • Hands-on experience with Palantir Foundry and AIP — Ontology, pipelines, applications, OSDK, etc
• • Strong software development experience, including a modern JavaScript frontend framework (React preferred) and Python, with genuine range across both Foundry and custom development
• • Experience incorporating AI/LLMs into production solutions — not just using AI tools to write code faster but building AI/LLM-enabled features into what you ship
• • Proven ability to operate with ambiguity — comfortable taking a loosely defined problem and driving it to a solution with minimal direction
• • Comfort informally leading other engineers — reviewing work, unblocking teammates, and setting technical direction without formal authority
• • Hybrid in the United States, with occasional travel for project and client meetings, primarily in North America
• • Strong experience with REST APIs and both relational and cloud-native data platforms (e.g., Databricks, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, Cosmos DB, MongoDB)
• • Solid working knowledge of Agile delivery, Git, and CI/CD practices
• • Prior experience in a professional services, consulting, or client-facing environment
• • Education/Certifications — A relevant college degree and/or industry certifications (e.g., Palantir Foundry certifications, cloud platform certifications) are a plus; equivalent hands-on experience is valued just as highly

Qualifications

Must Haves

• • 6+ years of relevant experience — seasoned individual contributors who prefer building over managing but are ready to lead technically
• • Hands-on experience with Palantir Foundry and AIP — Ontology, pipelines, applications, OSDK, etc
• • Strong software development experience, including a modern JavaScript frontend framework (React preferred) and Python, with genuine range across both Foundry and custom development
• • Experience incorporating AI/LLMs into production solutions — not just using AI tools to write code faster but building AI/LLM-enabled features into what you ship
• • Proven ability to operate with ambiguity — comfortable taking a loosely defined problem and driving it to a solution with minimal direction
• • Comfort informally leading other engineers — reviewing work, unblocking teammates, and setting technical direction without formal authority
• • Hybrid in the United States, with occasional travel for project and client meetings, primarily in North America

Nice to Haves

• • Strong experience with REST APIs and both relational and cloud-native data platforms (e.g., Databricks, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, Cosmos DB, MongoDB)
• • Solid working knowledge of Agile delivery, Git, and CI/CD practices
• • Prior experience in a professional services, consulting, or client-facing environment
• • Education/Certifications — A relevant college degree and/or industry certifications (e.g., Palantir Foundry certifications, cloud platform certifications) are a plus; equivalent hands-on experience is valued just as highly

Benefits

• Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance
• 401(k) plan
• Ability to purchase company stock at a discount
• Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan
• Unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees
• Seven paid holidays
• Caregiver leave
• Certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock
• Hybrid working policy, allowing employees to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations