Director, Forward Deployed Engineer

Description

Enterprise AI builds AI products that prove their worth quickly and then scale to production. This Staff-level role leads the Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) function for the research engine of Chemical Manufacturing Controls (CMC) R&D.

The FDE team works at the front of the Enterprise AI delivery pipeline. It tests AI ideas with the business through first production versions, then hands proven solutions to Solutions Engineers for scale-up. AI-native companies such as Anthropic, Palantir and OpenAI work this way, and this role brings that model to the company.

CMC turns a validated molecule into a medicine that is manufactured reliably and meets quality standards. Its Acceleration program aims to double new product introductions and runs three engines: Development (molecule and process R&D), Tech Transfer (moving from R&D to market) and Data & Automation (the knowledge system and agent-based automation across CMC).

You will build and scale digital twin, physical AI and self-driving lab capability. It links virtual process models to real process signals and closed-loop experiments, supporting real-time process modelling and faster process development for drug substance and drug product manufacturing.

The company aims to positively affect the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, working across four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation, oncology, HIV, and infectious diseases.

In your first 12 months, the FDE function should have a working engagement pipeline, defined standards, and a team delivering at pace and growing in seniority. Director and Senior Director BU sponsors should see it as a credible, high-value partner rather than a vendor. At least one portfolio kill or continue decision should be made, defended, and agreed by Enterprise AI and BU leadership. AI-native standards for agent workflows, prompt and pattern libraries, and handoffs should be documented and in active use.

Responsibilities

• Lead the FDE function, covering strategy, structure, hiring, development and standards.
• Hire, mentor and grow the FDE team, with development paths from G8 through to G5.
• Set standards for AI-native engineering in the function, including agent workflows, prompt and pattern libraries, and clean handoffs.
• Build and maintain relationships with Director and Senior Director BU sponsors who bring AI use cases to Enterprise AI.
• Personally lead the most strategic FDE engagements, especially those that set precedents for the function.
• Make and defend portfolio-level kill or continue decisions across FDE engagements, alongside BU and Enterprise AI leadership.
• Coordinate with Solutions Engineering and Operations Engineering on the delivery pipeline, and represent FDE in Enterprise AI leadership forums.
• Shape vendor strategy and tooling choices for AI-native engineering within Enterprise AI.
• Make sure the FDE function operates within Code Orange, Responsible AI and Accountability Report governance from the prototype stage onward.
• Report regularly to Enterprise AI leadership on the FDE pipeline, outcomes, team development and capacity.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in software engineering and AI/ML engineering, including significant time leading senior engineering teams or functions.
• A record of taking AI ideas to working software quickly in customer-facing engineering roles.
• Strong depth in at least 3 of the following: digital twins, predictive modeling, document generation, multi-agent orchestration and automation, Physical AI.
• Daily use of AI coding agents such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot or Databricks AI Assistant as your main way of developing.
• Experience hiring, mentoring and developing senior engineering talent.
• A track record of representing engineering functions to senior business stakeholders.
• Preferred: prior leadership at an AI-native company such as Anthropic, Palantir or OpenAI, in roles like Head of Forward Deployed Engineering, Director of Solutions or equivalent.
• Preferred: experience with physical device AI automation (PLCs, robotic arms), Isaac Sim, virtual commissioning, foundation models for manufacturing, self-driving labs or similar.
• Preferred: experience in regulated industries such as pharma, healthcare or financial services.
• Preferred: process development experience in a pharmaceutical research environment.
• Preferred: experience setting AI engineering standards at organisational scale.
• Education: a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering or equivalent practical experience. A master's or PhD in computer science or a related field is advantageous.
• Set AI-native engineering standards, stay hands-on on strategic engagements, and evaluate the team's technical decisions.
• Make and defend kill or continue decisions with multi-year business consequences, and translate AI possibilities into business outcomes for senior stakeholders.
• Build an engineering function with the right structure, standards, culture and ways of working in a fast-moving AI landscape.
• Work through complexity across business units to keep the FDE engagement pipeline moving.
• Embed responsible AI governance in FDE practice from the prototype stage, not add it afterwards.

Conditions

Based at the company's London headquarters, with a hybrid model combining on-site and remote work.

Applications close on 10th November 2026.

The company works an agile culture across its roles. If flexibility matters to you, discuss the options with the hiring team.

Candidates from all backgrounds are welcome, including those from groups underrepresented in technology, science and pharma.