Forward Deployed Engineer

HackerRank
in Santa Clara, CA
HybridCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Geared toward technical leaders comfortable with customer-facing execution and collaboration, with a focus on full-stack capabilities and hybrid work arrangements in Santa Clara, CA.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with experience in HR tech and developer tools who enjoy blending engineering and consulting.
    — “Experience as a software, solutions, or sales engineer working with HR tech, ATS platforms, IDEs, developer tools, API-first or integration-heavy systems.”
  • Professionals who can act as the primary technical voice during customer engagements and deliver measurable impact.
    — “Confident leading conversations onsite with prospects and enterprise customers while gathering requirements, shaping technical approaches, and delivering results that drive measurable impact.”
  • Individuals who thrive in hybrid roles requiring on-site presence and a balance of technical and interpersonal skills.
    — “This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Santa Clara.”

Things to consider

  • Requires on-site presence with customers despite the hybrid work arrangement.
    — “We’re looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer to work on-site with our customers”
  • Candidates must be prepared to manage projects through disciplined execution and proactive updates.
    — “Keep customer projects on track through disciplined execution and proactive updates.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your ability to configure and debug full-stack systems in your resume and interview responses.
    — “A customer-facing technical lead with enough full-stack depth to configure, debug, and explain web applications, integrations, and generate API scripts as needed”
  • Emphasize experience in shaping practical solutions during customer engagements.
    — “Partner onsite with customers, engineers, recruiters, and business leaders to uncover developer needs, listen with empathy, and shape practical, goal-driven solutions.”
  • Showcase your track record of successfully delivering projects from scoping to delivery.
    — “A track record of seeing projects through from scoping to delivery, balancing customer needs with technical tradeoffs.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering field or science
  • 1+ years of hands-on experience with plant or pilot equipment
  • Experience handling aggressive chemistry
  • 1+ years of experience using software tools such as Matlab or Python
Typical background
Software EngineeringTechnical SalesConsulting

Skills & requirements

Required

Customer-facing EngagementsDiscoveryPilotsDemosTechnical ExecutionRuby Or PythonAPI ScriptsCustomer NeedsTechnical ApproachesDelivery ResultsCollaborate With Product, Engineering, And GTM Teams

Preferred

Software FluencyAI Tools

Stack & domain

Web ApplicationsIntegrationsAPI ScriptsRubyPythonAICustomer NeedsTechnical TradeoffsCustomer-facingCommunicationProblem-solvingTeamworkHR TechATS PlatformsIdesDeveloper ToolsApi-firstIntegration-heavy Systems

About the role

Original posting from HackerRank via Greenhouse

HackerRank helps companies like NVIDIA, Amazon, and Microsoft hire and upskill the next generation of developers based on skills, not pedigree. Our platform is trusted by over 2,500 of the world’s most innovative companies to build strong engineering teams ready for what’s next.

Software has entered an era where humans and AI build side by side. As this shift accelerates, the definition of strong technical talent is changing. We give companies better ways to identify and invest in next-generation skills.

People at HackerRank care deeply about the impact of their work and sweat the small details so our customers can be wildly successful with products they genuinely love to use. We move with urgency and believe great outcomes come from high standards.

About the role

We’re looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer to work on-site with our customers, serving as the primary technical presence in customer engagements, leading pilots and demos, and supporting customer evaluation and successful adoption. This role blends deep customer engagement with technical execution. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Santa Clara.

What you’ll do

Lead customer-facing engagements, including discovery, pilots, and demos, acting as the primary technical voice in front of prospects and customers.  

Partner onsite with customers, engineers, recruiters, and business leaders to uncover developer needs, listen with empathy, and shape practical, goal-driven solutions.

Keep customer projects on track through disciplined execution and proactive updates.

Use the right tools, including AI when useful, to deliver faster, more reliable outcomes that strengthen HackerRank’s customer experience.

Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and GTM teams to elevate the voice of the customer.

Who you are

A customer-facing technical lead with enough full-stack depth to configure, debug, and explain web applications, integrations, and generate API scripts as needed (Ruby or Python). 

Confident leading conversations onsite with prospects and enterprise customers while gathering requirements, shaping technical approaches, and delivering results that drive measurable impact.

A clear communicator who can go deep with engineers or simplify for non-technical crowds.

A strong operator who plans, executes, and follows through, keeping projects organized.

You lead with empathy, energy, and a problem-solver’s mindset.

Even better if you have

Experience as a software, solutions, or sales engineer working with HR tech, ATS platforms, IDEs, developer tools, API-first or integration-heavy systems.

A track record of seeing projects through from scoping to delivery, balancing customer needs with technical tradeoffs.

You will thrive in this role if

You love mixing engineering, consulting, and delivery, owning every step of the journey.

You want every project to feel like a new challenge.

You set and uphold high standards for excellence for yourself and those around you.

Compensation

The base salary range for this role is $160,000–$185,000, plus a target 10% annual bonus tied to individual and company performance. You will also receive equity (stock options) and a comprehensive package of cash and non-cash benefits.

Want to learn more about HackerRank? Check out HackerRank.com to explore our products, solutions and resources, and dive into our story and mission here.

HackerRank is a proud equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. We provide equal opportunity to everyone for employment based on individual performance and qualification. We never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital, veteran, or disability status. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. 

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Notice to prospective HackerRank job applicants:

Our Recruiters use @hackerrank.com email addresses.

We never ask for payment or credit check information to apply, interview, or work here.

Source: HackerRank careers (Greenhouse)

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