Managing Director, Forward Deployed Engineering

Managing Director, Forward Deployed Engineering – NTT DATA

Location: Plano, Texas, United States
Work Arrangement: Remote (as advertised; subject to client and business requirements)
Employment Type: Not specified
Salary Range: $150,000–$350,000 per year

Job Description

Position Summary

NTT DATA is building a new Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) capability to accelerate AI Service-as-Software, one of the company's key strategic growth initiatives. We are seeking an executive-level Head of Forward Deployed Engineering to build and lead this function globally.

This leader will create the field execution engine that brings AI products into strategic client environments. The role will deploy high-caliber technical teams to shape, prototype, validate, and scale AI solutions while converting client learning into reusable product and platform patterns.

This is not a traditional delivery, solution architecture, or technical pre-sales role. It is an executive technical leadership role focused on connecting client demand, AI product strategy, and product engineering to help NTT DATA move from bespoke AI services toward repeatable, platform-led AI Native growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and lead a high-impact Forward Deployed Engineering team of up to 20 engineers, combining AI engineering, solution architecture, industry and domain expertise, and client-facing technical credibility.

• Define the Forward Deployed Engineering operating model, including engagement rules, delivery standards, escalation paths, handoff models, and interfaces with product, engineering, sales, industry, and delivery teams.

• Deploy FDE teams into priority client and industry opportunities to shape AI solution hypotheses, prototypes, minimum viable products (MVPs), pilots, and production deployments.

• Partner closely with the Executive, AI Solutions Product Leader to translate field learning into product roadmap recommendations, reusable platform capabilities, and productization opportunities.

• Work with Product Engineering to move validated field solutions into scalable, secure, enterprise-ready product capabilities.

• Support strategic pursuits and executive client conversations by providing technical credibility, solution clarity, demonstrations, prototypes, and deployment plans.

• Establish reusable deployment patterns, reference architectures, templates, integration assets, and solution playbooks to reduce bespoke delivery and improve speed to value.

• Promote a 70% standardized and 30% configurable model for AI Service-as-Software offerings to improve repeatability, scalability, and margin potential.

• Recommend FDE deployment priorities based on client demand, strategic value, product learning potential, technical feasibility, and commercial relevance.

• Track field impact through metrics such as deployment quality, time to prototype, time to client value, reusable patterns created, productization candidates identified, client feedback, deployment repeatability, and team health.

Required Qualifications

• 15 or more years of experience in engineering, field engineering, solution architecture, enterprise platforms, AI and data products, product engineering, or technical delivery leadership.

• Experience leading technical teams at scale, ideally 15–30 engineers or equivalent.

• Strong technical fluency across artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI (GenAI), agentic workflows, data platforms, cloud architecture, application programming interfaces (APIs), integrations, enterprise applications, and software delivery.

• Proven ability to work directly with senior client, business, and technology stakeholders in complex enterprise environments.

• Experience translating ambiguous business problems into practical, deployable technical solutions.

• Strong understanding of how field-built solutions can become scalable product capabilities.

• Experience working across product, engineering, sales, delivery, architecture, security, and client teams.

• Ability to build new operating models, delivery standards, team structures, and execution rhythms in a scaling environment.

• Executive presence and ability to influence across a global, matrixed organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Forward Deployed Engineering, field engineering, solutions engineering, platform engineering, technical product leadership, or enterprise AI delivery.

• Experience in a global systems integration, consulting, enterprise software, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), cloud, or AI platform environment.

• Experience with Service-as-Software, productized services, or platform-led delivery models.

• Experience building repeatable deployment patterns from client-specific implementations.

• Experience partnering with product and engineering leaders to convert field learning into roadmap priorities and scalable product capabilities.

Success Measures

• Establishment of a high-performing Forward Deployed Engineering function.

• Quality and speed of AI deployments in strategic client environments.

• Strength of the feedback loop from field deployments into product and platform roadmaps.

• Number and quality of reusable patterns, accelerators, and productization candidates generated.

• Improved deployment repeatability and reduced bespoke implementation effort.

• Effectiveness of partnership with AI Solutions Product, Product Engineering, AI Vista, AI Market Makers, industry, sales, and delivery teams.

• Contribution to strategic pursuits, client confidence, and commercialization readiness.

• Technical quality, reliability, and enterprise readiness of field-deployed solutions.

• Health, retention, and development of the FDE team.

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to build a new executive-level technical field capability at the center of NTT DATA's AI strategy.

You will lead the team that makes AI Service-as-Software real in client environments, proves value quickly, and turns field learning into scalable product advantage. You will work alongside product and engineering executives to help the company move from bespoke AI delivery toward repeatable, platform-led AI Native growth.

You will not simply lead implementation. You will build the field engineering system that connects client demand, AI product strategy, and scalable product engineering.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30 billion business and technology services leader, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. The company is committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation.

NTT DATA is one of the world's leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers, and application services. Its consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future.

As a Global Top Employer, NTT DATA has experts in more than 50 countries. The company also offers clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers and established and start-up partners. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests more than $3 billion annually in research and development.

NTT DATA endeavors to hire locally to its offices or client sites whenever possible. While many positions offer remote or hybrid work options, these arrangements are subject to change based on client requirements. Employees near an NTT DATA office or client site may be required to attend in-person meetings or events depending on business needs.

NTT DATA recruiters will never ask for payment or banking information. Recruiters will only use email addresses ending in @nttdata.com, @nttdatafed.com, or @talent.nttdataservices.com.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting pay range for this role is $150,000–$350,000 annually. This range reflects the minimum and maximum target compensation for the position across all U.S. locations.

Actual compensation depends on factors including work location, relevant experience, technical skills, and other qualifications. The position may also be eligible for incentive compensation based on individual and/or company performance.

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with an employer contribution.

• Flexible spending account or health savings account.

• Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Paid time off.

• Employee assistance program.

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

• Additional voluntary or legally required benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

NTT DATA is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

The company provides accessibility assistance and reasonable accommodations during the application process.