Rippling
Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Not specified
- Experience
- 3+ years
- Category
- Not specified
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of software development experience with strong proficiency in one or more of: Python, Javascript, Ruby, Java, Go, C or C++, along with SQL and data modeling
- 1–3+ years of experience leading or mentoring engineers (formal or informal leadership)
- Proven ability to deliver complex technical projects in fast-paced environments
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and prioritize effectively
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, especially in customer-facing contexts
- Customer-centric mindset with experience working directly with external stakeholders
- Willingness to travel to client sites as needed (up to ~25%)
Full description
About the role
As a Manager of Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) at Rippling, you will lead a team of engineers responsible for delivering high-impact, customized solutions for our customers. You will operate at the intersection of engineering, customer success, and product—ensuring your team consistently executes complex implementations with high quality and efficiency.
This role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving ambiguous real-world problems, and is passionate about developing strong engineering talent. You will be accountable for team delivery, operational excellence, and contributor growth across multiple concurrent customer engagements.
What you will do
- Lead and develop a high-performing team of FDEs
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- Provide day-to-day guidance, mentorship, and coaching
- Drive performance management, feedback, and career development
- Build a strong team culture focused on ownership and customer impact
- Own execution across customer engagements
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- Ensure successful delivery of complex implementations across multiple projects
- Oversee development of custom integrations, workflows, applications, and analytics using Rippling products and languages like Python, Javascript, Ruby, Java, Go, C or C++
- Maintain high standards for quality, reliability, and scalability
- Drive operational excellence
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- Improve team-level processes, delivery consistency, and execution rigor
- Manage resourcing, prioritization, and execution across concurrent engagements
- Identify and resolve delivery bottlenecks and cross-team dependencies
- Partner cross-functionally to unblock execution
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- Collaborate with Account Management, Product, Engineering, and CX teams
- Escalate and resolve issues impacting customer delivery
- Ensure alignment between customer needs and product capabilities
- Engage directly with customers when needed
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- Support critical engagements and high-priority accounts
- Help scope solutions and guide technical decision-making
- Ensure strong customer outcomes and satisfaction
- Contribute to team hiring and growth
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- Participate in recruiting and onboarding new FDEs
- Maintain a high bar for technical and customer-facing talent
Qualifications