CLIENT-FACING ROLES
FDE vs solutions engineer
Quick answer
A solutions engineer supports the sale; an FDE takes over after it and writes the production code.
| SOLUTIONS ENGINEER | FORWARD DEPLOYED ENGINEER | |
|---|---|---|
| MAIN OUTPUT | Demos and technical sales support | A working deployment inside one customer's systems |
| CLIENT TIME | Similar, earlier in the deal than an FDE | High: discovery, demos and handover every week |
| WRITES PRODUCTION CODE | Rarely | Yes |
| PAY | See FDE salary in India for bands by experience and city. | |