Forward deployed engineers (FDEs) are increasingly sought after in the tech industry, with job postings skyrocketing by 1,165% from 2024 to 2025. This role, originally defined by Palantir, has evolved, yet companies often use the term to describe varied responsibilities. Most commonly, type 1 FDEs (60% of roles) focus on building and maintaining complex systems for clients, blending software engineering with customer engagement. They spend 70-90% of their time coding and have travel commitments ranging from 30-50%. Salaries for these engineers typically range from $140,000 to $250,000, with many roles offering equity. The article identifies the top ten responsibilities of an FDE, highlighting that working directly with customers is the predominant duty, accounting for 55% of roles. Other key tasks include building AI/ML systems and integrating APIs. Notably absent from these responsibilities are sales-related targets, reinforcing the engineering focus of the role. In contrast, type 2 FDEs (30% of positions) resemble sales engineers, supporting sales cycles and customer implementations but doing far less coding. Type 3 FDEs (10% of roles) are more internal-facing, building tools for their companies rather than for external clients. The average salary for an FDE is reported at $173,816, with a significant majority of positions offering equity but lacking commission structures typical of sales roles. Companies hiring these engineers often come from the AI/ML and data infrastructure sectors, where the demand for technical expertise is critical for deploying complex systems. This shift indicates a need for engineers who can navigate the intricacies of AI implementation rather than just providing demos or sales support.