Forward Deployed Engineer

Job Description

Forward Deployed Engineer | IBM

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at IBM Software. The company builds leading AI-powered, cloud-native software solutions for customers across Research, Software, and Infrastructure. This role is crucial for transforming client challenges into solutions by accelerating outcomes, connecting product development to real-world value, and ensuring measurable results through direct engagement and technical enablement.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Team: Client Adoption Team, embedded within IBM’s Software Development organization, deployed directly with clients.
• Mission: Reduce time-to-value and ensure measurable outcomes for zTPS strategic software offerings through hands-on technical enablement and a tight feedback loop.
• Tech Stack: watsonx Code Assistant for Z, Test Accelerator for Z, HashiCorp Terraform for Z, IBM Concert for Z, watsonx Assistant for Z, AI Platforms on Z, AI Toolkit (AI Optimizer) on Z with Spyre, HashiCorp Vault for Z, Linux, Windows, zOS, TCP/IP, LDAP, APM solutions on IBM Z platform, IBM CICS, IMS, Enterprise COBOL, Java, OpenTelemetry (OTeL), Ansible Automation Platform, REXX, JCL, YAML, Large Language Models, RAG models, Conversational AI, VS Code.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Communicate: Explain both technical concepts and business value effectively to diverse audiences.
• Implement: Assist with pilots and proof-of-value engagements, helping transition successful use cases into production for value realization.
• Execute: Work directly with clients to plan for and execute software implementation plans.
• Influence: Interact with IBM development labs to provide product feedback, shaping feature design, roadmap prioritization, and release quality.
• Scale: Contribute to and deploy reusable assets such as documentation, playbooks, scripts, and best practices to scale client enablement.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Candidates should be engineering-minded, curious, and resourceful, with a strong drive to understand how systems work, experiment, and deliver solutions directly with clients.
• Experience: Requires familiarity with various project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall), including sprint planning and iterative delivery, along with strong organizational skills for managing dependencies and anticipating risks. Additionally, experience with two or more of: Operating system administration (Linux, Windows, zOS), TCP/IP network and LDAP administration, APM solutions on IBM Z platform, IBM CICS and/or IMS admin skills, Enterprise COBOL development, or Java development.
• Skills: Strong written and verbal communication, comfortable working with global teams across time zones and cultures. Requires exposure to two or more of: OpenTelemetry (OTeL), Ansible Automation Platform, programming languages common to automation (REXX, JCL, YAML), working with Large Language Models, RAG models, Conversational AI, or VS Code.
• Bonus: Interoperating COBOL and Java within a zOS subsystem.