Principal Forward Deployed Engineer

About the Role

Thoughtworks is seeking a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer to lead technical strategy and execution for lighthouse projects within the global Customer Experience, Product, and Design team. This role focuses on integrating strategy, architecture, AI engineering, and executive collaboration to deliver ambitious product work. The approach involves a rapid 3/3/3 cycle: 3 days for product concept, 3 weeks for a working prototype, and 3 months for an MLP launch. AI is integrated throughout the entire lifecycle, from specification and design through build, test, and operations.

Team and Autonomy

The Principal Forward Deployed Engineer operates as the lead engineer within tight forward-deployed pods, typically comprising a Product Strategist, an Experience Designer, and two Forward-Deployed Engineers. This role guides architecture, delivery cadence, and technical commercial choices, collaborating as an equal partner with strategists and designers. On larger programs, the Principal Engineer leads across multiple pods, each following the 3/3/3 rhythm. This is a Principal-level role, granting significant autonomy in architectural patterns, stack selection, pod composition, commercial pricing tolerances, and technical positioning in pitches. The role reports to the Director of Technology for CXPD and operates within a cadre of Tech Principals.

Responsibilities

• Shape product bets by leading concept sprints with client executives, product managers, and designers, defining scope, testability, and success metrics.
• Contribute to winning new work by partnering with account leads to develop technical narratives, support the pod construct and 3/3/3 commercial arc, and own technical scope in proposals.
• Prove concepts by setting technical direction for prototyping, determining what to build, fake, or buy, and establishing evaluation methods for AI-powered solutions including golden datasets and human review.
• Ensure successful product launches by owning architectures that ship within three months and establishing robust delivery systems such as continuous delivery, test strategy, observability, security, and privacy by design.
• Advise key stakeholders as a trusted technology advisor, aligning technical options with business outcomes, presenting to steering committees, and facilitating executive workshops.
• Develop team members through pairing, code review, mentoring, and creating reusable practices to support team continuity and knowledge sharing.

Location and Travel

This role is anchored in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focusing on digital initiatives aligned with Vision 2030 across government transformation, PIF-family portfolio companies, financial services, energy, retail, and public sectors. The work involves regulated-industry delivery and data-residency requirements under PDPL. Arabic-language proficiency is considered an asset, though not a strict requirement. Expect approximately 40% regional travel to GCC client sites and occasional global travel (~10%) for CXPD-wide gatherings and knowledge sharing.

First Year Milestones

• By three months: Lead a lighthouse engagement through a complete 3/3/3 cycle, establishing client recognition.
• By six months: Work across multiple markets, contributing to at least one externally shared success story.
• By one year: Enable other Tech Principals with assets and coaching, and establish a voice in AI-first product innovation that extends beyond Thoughtworks.

Why Thoughtworks

Thoughtworks offers high-impact visibility on flagship projects, global perspective and variety across diverse markets and industries, and opportunities for hands-on technical depth in leadership roles. The company provides an environment to shape the future of AI in product development and fosters growth through tailored coaching and learning opportunities within an inclusive culture that values diverse backgrounds and experiences.