How many forward deployed jobs are remote, hybrid or on-site?
Among the 482 postings that state a work mode, 40% are hybrid, 34% are on-site and 26% are remote.
Counted across all 765 open roles, 16% are remote and 37% do not say.
| Work mode | Open roles | Share of all roles | Share of roles that state a mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 193 | 25% | 40% |
| On-site | 165 | 22% | 34% |
| Remote | 124 | 16% | 26% |
| Not stated (or too few to show) | 283 | 37% | n/a |
A work mode is counted only where the posting states one, and a remote role can still be limited to one country or time zone. The Hiring Index has the same table, refreshed weekly, and its method.
How much do forward deployed engineers travel?
Expect some travel: 53% of forward deployed postings mention it, and published accounts put time at customer sites anywhere from a few visits to about half of working time.
The index counts a mention, not the amount. For the amount, The Pragmatic Engineer reports that traveling to sit alongside customers is standard for the role. One employer it describes expects about a quarter of an engineer's time on site, another up to half, and a third works on site a few days a week during delivery.
Travel is also the role's best-known downside. The encyclopedia entry on the role notes that some engineers dislike it for the travel and the pressure of short customer deadlines. Pre-sales roles travel too: the US Bureau of Labor Statistics says sales engineers often travel to meet customers, and some are away from home several days a month.
Why do so many roles need people on site?
Because the work happens inside the customer's systems and alongside the customer's people, and some of those systems cannot be reached from outside.
72% of descriptions name customer-facing work. 17% name a security clearance, which points to government and defense work. A former forward deployed engineer quoted by the same newsletter says many colleagues worked in air-gapped environments, which by design have no outside network connection.
Hybrid and on-site roles also gather in a few hubs: the New York City area, the San Francisco Bay Area, London and the Washington, DC area lead the index's metro table. See where the roles are.
How do you find out what a specific role expects?
Ask before you apply, since 37% of postings do not say. Five questions settle most of it:
- What share of time is on customer sites, on average and at the busiest point of a deployment?
- Is the base an office, a customer's site or home?
- How far ahead is travel planned, and who arranges it?
- Which customers or sectors would I work with, and do any need a clearance?
- What happens between deployments?
For pay, see how much a forward deployed engineer makes. For how the role differs from pre-sales jobs that also travel, see forward deployed engineer vs solutions engineer.
Frequently asked questions
Can a forward deployed engineer work fully remotely?
Some can: 26% of the postings that state a work mode are fully remote. Even then, expect visits to customers, which published accounts of the role describe as standard. Ask how often before you accept.
Do forward deployed engineers need a security clearance?
Most do not. 17% of the postings in our Hiring Index name a security clearance, which some government and defense work requires. If a role needs one, ask whether the employer sponsors it or expects you to hold it already.
Where are forward deployed engineer jobs located?
The United States has 55% of the roles in our Hiring Index, and the New York City area leads the metros with 95 roles. Roles that say only "remote" have no country and are counted as not stated. See where the roles are.
Sources and further reading
Sources are linked so you can check them. Statements that vary by employer, or that accounts disagree about, are hedged in the text. Found a mistake? Email support@forwardeployed.work and we will correct the page and update its date.
- Forward Deployed Engineer Hiring Index. Forward Deployed, weekly data from public employer job boards, CC BY 4.0.
- What are Forward Deployed Engineers, and why are they so in demand?. Gergely Orosz, The Pragmatic Engineer, 12 August 2025.
- Forward Deployed Engineer. Encyclopedia entry.
- Sales Engineers. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Cite this guide
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<a href="https://forwardeployed.work/guides/are-forward-deployed-engineer-jobs-remote">Are forward deployed engineer jobs remote?</a> (ForwarD²eployed editorial)