Datadog for Startups - Forward Deployed Engineering Lead

Datadog's Forward Deployed Engineering function is in an active growth phase, and the FDE Lead will play a central role in shaping what comes next. Working in close partnership with the Head of Datadog for Startups and Forward Deployed Engineers, you will help define and expand the FDE framework, build out structures and processes for scale, and extend the program's reach beyond any single customer segment. This role sits at the intersection of sales, execution, program design, and hands-on engineering leadership.

• Evolve and scale the FDE operating model end to end: engagement intake, scoping, sprint delivery, handoff, and success metrics (time-to-value, adoption lift, ARR influence, NPS).
• Build a catalog of FDE offerings including observability quickstarts, custom integration development, LLM/AI observability accelerators, CI/CD pipeline instrumentation, and cost optimization deep dives, and contribute to pricing and business models.
• Capture product and feature gaps, translate them into prioritized briefs, and partner with PM and Engineering to inform roadmap decisions.
• Hire, onboard, and develop full-time FDEs, manage rotating cohorts of SWE and TSE secondments, and build technical assessment frameworks.
• Identify high-value mini-product opportunities and drive lightweight engineering sprints to convert recurring customer needs into reusable assets.
• Partner with Sales, Solutions Engineering, Customer Success, and Business Development to identify accounts for the FDE motion and represent the function in QBRs and executive reviews.

• 8+ years in forward deployed engineering, solutions architecture, software engineering, or related fields, including 3+ years in a customer-facing technical role.
• 2+ years of engineering management or technical leadership experience.
• Experience scaling a technical program or function within a high-growth technology company.
• Deep familiarity with modern cloud-native stacks (Kubernetes, AWS/GCP/Azure, microservices, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code) and hands-on experience with observability, monitoring, APM, or logging platforms.
• Strong communication across audiences from engineers to CTOs and VP-level executives, commercial instinct, and comfort with travel.

Shape and scale a rapidly growing strategic function, partner with leadership across Engineering, Product, Sales, Customer Success, and Business Development, influence customer outcomes and product roadmap, and develop expertise across cloud infrastructure, platform engineering, AI observability, and customer-facing technical leadership.

Datadog offers a competitive salary and equity package, including healthcare, dental, parental planning, mental health benefits, a 401(k) plan and match, paid time off, fitness reimbursements, and a discounted employee stock purchase plan. The reasonably estimated yearly salary for this role is $200,000—$250,000 USD.