Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering

About RipplingRippling gives businesses one place to run HR, IT, and Finance. It brings together all of the workforce systems that are normally scattered across a company, like payroll, expenses, benefits, and computers. For the first time ever, you can manage and automate every part of the employee lifecycle in a single system.Take onboarding, for example. With Rippling, you can hire a new employee anywhere in the world and set up their payroll, corporate card, computer, benefits, and even third-party apps like Slack and Microsoft 365—all within 90 seconds.Based in San Francisco, CA, Rippling has raised $1.4B+ from the world’s top investors—including Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, Sequoia, Greenoaks, and Bedrock—and was named one of America's best startup employers by Forbes.We prioritize candidate safety. Please be aware that all official communication will only be sent from @Rippling.com addresses.About the roleAs a Manager of Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) at Rippling, you will lead a team of engineers responsible for delivering high-impact, customized solutions for our customers. You will operate at the intersection of engineering, customer success, and product—ensuring your team consistently executes complex implementations with high quality and efficiency.This role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving ambiguous real-world problems, and is passionate about developing strong engineering talent. You will be accountable for team delivery, operational excellence, and contributor growth across multiple concurrent customer engagements.What you will doLead and develop a high-performing team of FDEsProvide day-to-day guidance, mentorship, and coachingDrive performance management, feedback, and career developmentBuild a strong team culture focused on ownership and customer impactOwn execution across customer engagementsEnsure successful delivery of complex implementations across multiple projectsOversee development of custom integrations, workflows, applications, and analytics using Rippling products and languages like Python, Javascript, Ruby, Java, Go, C or C++Maintain high standards for quality, reliability, and scalabilityDrive operational excellenceImprove team-level processes, delivery consistency, and execution rigorManage resourcing, prioritization, and execution across concurrent engagementsIdentify and resolve delivery bottlenecks and cross-team dependenciesPartner cross-functionally to unblock executionCollaborate with Account Management, Product, Engineering, and CX teamsEscalate and resolve issues impacting customer deliveryEnsure alignment between customer needs and product capabilitiesEngage directly with customers when neededSupport critical engagements and high-priority accountsHelp scope solutions and guide technical decision-makingEnsure strong customer outcomes and satisfactionContribute to team hiring and growthParticipate in recruiting and onboarding new FDEsMaintain a high bar for technical and customer-facing talentQualificationsBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field5+ years of software development experience with strong proficiency in one or more of: Python, Javascript, Ruby, Java, Go, C or C++, along with SQL and data modeling1–3+ years of experience leading or mentoring engineers (formal or informal leadership)Proven ability to deliver complex technical projects in fast-paced environmentsStrong problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and prioritize effectivelyExcellent communication and interpersonal skills, especially in customer-facing contextsCustomer-centric mindset with experience working directly with external stakeholdersWillingness to travel to client sites as needed (up to ~25%)Nice to have / strongly preferredExperience using AI to transform real-world workflows, team operations, customer delivery, or business processes, not just building AI features in isolation; able to identify high-ROI use cases and guide them from discovery through production deployment, adoption, and measurable impact.Track record applying AI agents, workflow automation, copilots, data products, or custom software to turn ambiguous business problems into durable solutions that customers or internal teams actually use, with strong judgment around reliability, evals, guardrails, permissions, and change management.Additional InformationRippling is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected characteristics, Rippling is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities who need assistance during the hiring process. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email View email address on us.fitly.work highly values having employees working in-office to foster a collaborative work environment and company culture. For office-based employees (employees who live within a defined radius of a Rippling office), Rippling considers working in the office, at least three days a week under current policy, to be an essential function of the employee's role.