Principal Forward Deployed Engineer

Docker, Inc

. Embed with customer engineering teams to design, build, and ship solutions from first prototype through stable production rollout .

Posted 10/22/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLead💰 $198,000 - $319,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates extensive expertise in software engineering with a focus on Docker, LLMs, and customer-facing technical roles. Proven ability to lead technical delivery, mentor engineers, and integrate complex systems while ensuring compliance and security standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Expert Production Coding Skills In Go, Python, Or TypescriptDeep Hands-On Docker ExpertiseExperience Integrating With Enterprise SystemsTechnical Leadership Across Multiple EngagementsWorking Knowledge Of Software Supply Chain Security

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Production CodingDocker ExpertiseLLMs ImplementationMCP Server ImplementationContainer Security FundamentalsImage Signing And AttestationVulnerability ManagementKubernetes IntegrationCI/CD PipelinesPrompt Engineering

Soft Skills

Excellent Communication SkillsTechnical MentorshipHigh AgencyAutonomous OperationCollaboration

Tools & Technologies

DockerKubernetesAWSAzureGCPOktaLDAP/Active DirectoryOIDCSAMLSecrets Managers

Industry Keywords

Software EngineeringCustomer-Facing Technical RoleTechnical Design ReviewsSecurity ComplianceProduction Rollout

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AWSAzureCloudDockerGoogle Cloud PlatformKubernetesPythonTypeScriptGo

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Embed with customer engineering teams to design, build, and ship solutions from first prototype through stable production rollout
Use existing Docker products and patterns when possible; invent, prototype, and validate innovative solutions when necessary
Deliver technical artifacts including custom MCP servers with Docker Sandbox environments, Docker Compose definitions, Hardened Image standardization and migration, and tools that unblock customer progress
Integrate Docker's AI platform with identity providers, secrets management, private and air-gapped registries, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and observability tooling
Own technical delivery by scoping work, sequencing it, making speed-versus-quality trade-offs, removing blockers, and contributing directly to code
Translate customer security, compliance, and platform requirements into concrete plans through production
Help customers define controls for safe, compliant agentic AI adoption
Establish quality and performance standards and address issues outside established thresholds
Partner with customer security and platform teams on architecture review, threat modeling, and change control
Work with Solutions Architects on off-the-shelf and bespoke solutions
Feed implementation learnings into reference architectures, SOW templates, and success patterns
Support proofs of concept, escalations, and expansion conversations
Collaborate with Product and Engineering to incorporate FDE innovations, learnings, and design patterns into products and services
Provide data-driven customer feedback to Product and Engineering to influence the roadmap
Define the FDE engagement model, delivery standards, and quality bar
Mentor and lead Forward Deployed Engineers and participate in hiring loops
Act as senior technical escalation point on the hardest customer problems
Maintain current knowledge of LLMs, APIs, MCP, coding agents, evaluation approaches, performance thresholds, and deployment patterns
Participate in an on-call rotation outside standard business hours as needed

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of software engineering experience, including 4+ years in a customer-facing technical role such as Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Engineer, Professional Services Engineer, or Software Engineer with consulting or technical founder experience
Technical leadership across multiple engagements, teams, or domains, with ability to set delivery standards, define repeatable patterns, and influence product direction through field evidence
Expert production coding skills in Go, Python, or TypeScript
Track record of shipping and operating software that other people depend on and leading technical design reviews
Deep, hands-on Docker expertise: Dockerfiles and multi-stage builds, Docker Compose, image and registry operations, container networking and storage, and container security fundamentals
Hands-on experience building with LLMs and agents in production, including tool use and function calling, MCP server and client implementation, prompt and context engineering, and evaluation of agent behavior
Working knowledge of software supply chain security: SBOMs, image signing and attestation, vulnerability management, minimal and hardened base images, and secure CI/CD
Experience integrating with enterprise systems: Okta, Entra ID, LDAP/Active Directory, OIDC, SAML, secrets managers, Kubernetes, and at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
Ability to scope and deliver complex work in ambiguous, fast-moving customer environments, making sound trade-offs between scope, speed, and quality
Excellent communication skills with engineers, security and platform teams, and executive stakeholders
Proven track record of technical mentorship and raising the bar for engineers
High agency and comfort operating autonomously in distributed, remote-first teams
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
Travel to customer sites to build in person with customer teams, estimated at up to 50%
Visa sponsorship is considered case-by-case based on business needs

Benefits

Comp & perks

Remote-first by design — Work from your home, with offices in Seattle and Paris for connection and collaboration.
Flexibility that fits your life — Manage your schedule while delivering great work.
Generous PTO
Designated quarterly Whaleness Days
Designated end-of-year Whaleness break
Home office support
Technology stipend equivalent to US$100 net per month
Annual learning and development stipend for conferences, courses, certifications, and continued learning
16 weeks of paid parental leave after six months of employment
Equity for all full-time employees
Medical benefits
Retirement benefits
Paid holidays
Docker swag