Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)
Cloudflare · Hybrid
- On site
- Hybrid
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Subject: Interested in the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) role at Cloudflare
Hi Alex — I came across the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) opening and wanted to reach out directly. I've spent the last few years doing exactly this kind of work, and Cloudflare stood out because…
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About the role
At Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world’s largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging from individual bloggers to SMBs to Fortune 500 companies. Cloudflare protects and accelerates any Internet application online without adding hardware, installing software, or changing a line of code. Internet properties powered by Cloudflare all have web traffic routed through its intelligent global network, which gets smarter with every request. As a result, they see significant improvement in performance and a decrease in spam and other attacks. Cloudflare was named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Company Cultures list and ranked among the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company.
At Cloudflare, we’re not looking for people who wait for a polished roadmap; we’re looking for the builders who see the cracks in the Internet that everyone else has simply learned to live with. We value candidates who have the instinct to spot a "normalized" problem and the AI-native curiosity to create a solution using the latest tools. Our culture is built on iteration, leveraging AI to ship faster today to make it better tomorrow, while ensuring that every improvement, no matter how small, is shared across the team to lift everyone up. If you’re the type of person who values curiosity over bureaucracy, and that AI is a partner in solving tough problems to keep the Internet moving forward, you’ll fit right in.
Locations: Austin/TX, Dallas/TX or Atlanta/GA
Role Summary
As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you will be a dedicated Cloudflare expert directly embedded within the team of one of our most strategic and fast-paced customers. You will serve as the primary technical resource, architecting complex multi-stage migrations and providing the hands-on configuration necessary to drive the success of unique web infrastructure requirements. We are looking for a proactive, high-trust partner who thrives in agile environments, acts as a bridge to internal product teams, and possesses a deep passion for the future of AI-driven security.
Role Responsibilities
- Customer Engagement & Technical Leadership: Serve as a trusted advisor to key enterprise customers, providing technical insights, best practices, and strategic recommendations that support their business goals and drive success with Cloudflare’s solutions in particular Cloudflare’s worker and workers AI platforms. Lead architectural discussions, design sessions, and solution reviews to ensure the optimal application of Cloudflare’s offerings in customer environments. Diagnose complex technical issues and deliver effective, strategic solutions in collaboration with the support and product teams.
- Architect Application Security: Design and configure comprehensive, tailored solutions with a focus on Application Security, utilizing Cloudflare Workers to optimize and direct global traffic and Network Security.
- Master Infrastructure as Code: Support the account team by navigating and managing complex configurations heavily reliant on Terraform to ensure seamless operational stability.
- Act as a Strategic Liaison: Serve as a high-speed conduit between the customer and internal Cloudflare teams (Product, Support, Engineering), effectively advocating for customer needs and influencing product roadmaps.
- Navigate Modern Communication: Manage complex, fast-moving technical discussions primarily through Slack, acting as a guide for the customer even when formal calls are difficult to schedule.
- Drive AI Innovation: Leverage your deep knowledge of AI/LLM concepts to align Cloudflare’s capabilities with the customer’s AI-focused culture and future technological goals.
- Provide Long-Term Guidance: Stay with the account post-migration as a trusted advisor to identify future strategic initiatives, including a transition into Network Security and SASE architectures.
Role Requirements
Must-Have Skills
- 10+ Years of Technical Customer Facing Experience: Proven track record as a technical architect or lead on complex, enterprise-level projects within cloud networks, web infrastructure, or security.
- Application Security Expertise: Extensive and proven knowledge of development platforms such as Cloudflare’s Application Security, Workers and Workers AI, cybersecurity, web performance, and cloud infrastructure.
- Terraform Proficiency: Extensive experience implementing and supporting complex technical solutions using Terraform for infrastructure management.
- High-Stakes Relationship Management: Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport in challenging environments, remaining flexible and persistent in establishing regular cadences with stakeholders.
- Advanced Communication: Exceptional ability to navigate "Slack-first" communication cultures, providing clear guidance and managing technical threads under pressure.
- AI/LLM Knowledge: A strong technical understanding of and passion for AI/LLM concepts, fitting the culture of a cutting-edge AI-centric organization.
- Technical Background: Strong knowledge of networking protocols, cybersecurity, and industry standards (e.g., Zero Trust/SASE).
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Network Security Background: Experience or strong interest in transitioning application-heavy environments toward comprehensive Network Security and SASE models.
- Scripting & Automation: Proficiency in coding languages beyond Terraform to automate tasks at scale and build proof-of-concept setups.
- Financial Acumen: Experience managing or advising on project-based fund pools to maximize the value of a customer's strategic investment.
Compensation
Compensation may be adjusted depending on work location.
This role is eligible to earn incentive compensation under Cloudflare’s Sales Compensation Plan. The estimated annual salary range includes the on-target incentive compensation that may be attained in this role under the Sales Compensation Plan.
For Colorado, Hawaii, and Illinois based hires: Estimated annual salary of $167,000 - $230,000
For New York City, New Jersey, Washington, Washington DC, and California (excluding Bay Area) based hires: Estimated annual salary of $184,000 - $253,000
For Bay Area based hires: Estimated annual salary of $192,000 - $264,000
Equity
This role is eligible to participate in Cloudflare’s equity plan.
Benefits
Cloudflare offers a complete package of benefits and programs to support you and your family. Our benefits programs can help you pay health care expenses, support caregiving, build capital for the future and make life a little easier and fun! The below is a description of our benefits for employees in the United States, and benefits may vary for employees based outside the U.S.
Health & Welfare Benefits
- Medical/Rx Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Commuter Spending Accounts
- Fertility & Family Forming Benefits
- On-demand mental health support and Employee Assistance Program
- Global Travel Medical Insurance
Financial Benefits
- Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
- Life & Accident Insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
- Employee Stock Participation Plan
Time Off
- Flexible paid time off covering vacation and sick leave
- Leave programs, including parental, pregnancy health, medical, and bereavement leave
What Makes Cloudflare Special?
We’re not just a highly ambitious, large-scale technology company. We’re a highly ambitious, large-scale technology company with a soul. Fundamental to our mission to help build a better Internet is protecting the free and open Internet.
Project Galileo: Since 2014, we've equipped more than 2,400 journalism and civil society organizations in 111 countries with powerful tools to defend themselves against attacks that would otherwise censor their work, technology already used by Cloudflare’s enterprise customers--at no cost.
Athenian Project: In 2017, we created the Athenian Project to ensure that state and local governments have the highest level of protection and reliability for free, so that their constituents have access to election information and voter registration. Since the project, we've provided services to more than 425 local government election websites in 33 states.
1.1.1.1: We released 1.1.1.1 to help fix the foundation of the Internet by building a faster, more secure and privacy-centric public DNS resolver. This is available publicly for everyone to use - it is the first consumer-focused service Cloudflare has ever released. Here’s the deal - we don’t store client IP addresses never, ever. We will continue to abide by our privacy commitment and ensure that no user data is sold to advertisers or used to target consumers.
Sound like something you’d like to be a part of? We’d love to hear from you!
Please note that applicants who progress to the offer stage of the interview process may be asked to attend an in-person interview within one of the Cloudflare Offices or Cloudflare Hubs. More details about this will be available at that stage of the interview process.
This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations. Please note that any offer of employment may be conditioned on your authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export laws without sponsorship for an export license.
Cloudflare is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and place great value in both diversity and inclusiveness. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to their, or any other person's, perceived or actual race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law. We are an AA/Veterans/Disabled Employer.
Cloudflare provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job. Examples of reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to, changing the application process, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, please contact us via e-mail at hr@cloudflare.com or via mail at 101 Townsend St. San Francisco, CA 94107.
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