Sr Forward Deployed Engineer (Palantir Foundry & Custom Development)

We're looking for a Mid-Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE II) to own real ambiguity: taking a rough problem statement from the client, Implementation Lead, PM, or Architect, and driving it to a working solution with minimal hand-holding, across Foundry and custom development alike. You'll work across multiple active projects at once, moving fluidly between domains, and you'll be looked to by junior FDEs for technical direction on the projects you're placed on. This isn't a role where you get one project and go deep for a year — you'll be the person other FDEs turn to when priorities shift or the path forward isn't obvious.

This role doesn't carry formal people leadership responsibility, but it does carry real technical accountability: for the quality of a feature area, for the junior FDEs you're informally mentoring on a project. The digital solution you're building isn't the end goal — it's a value-add meant to move the needle on the client's broader program: pulling in or protecting the schedule, lowering cost, or increasing certainty for the program as a whole, not just for the technical work itself.

Compensation: This role is open to Mid and Senior levels, so final pay will be based on experience level

What You'll Do

• 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.

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.

Strongly preferred:

• 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.

Location

• Hybrid in the United States, with occasional travel for project and client meetings, primarily in North America.

• A list of offices can be found here: [1] https://www.jacobs.com/locations/americas/united-states

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References

Visible links

1. https://www.jacobs.com/locations/americas/united-states

Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.