Can a New Graduate Become an FDE?

Yes, some companies hire graduates into FDE or FDSE positions. However, requirements vary significantly between employers and teams. Candidates should verify the experience requirements, mentorship structure, travel expectations, and technical ownership before accepting.

Is Forward Deployed Engineering Good for New Grads?

Forward deployed engineering for new grads can be an excellent first job when the role includes strong mentorship, production engineering, customer exposure, and defined responsibilities. It can accelerate learning by combining technical work with real-world deployment challenges. The role becomes less attractive when most of the work involves configuration, demos, or unsupported customer delivery.

How Much Travel Should a New Graduate Expect?

There is no universal travel requirement for FDE roles. Some teams may have significant customer-site travel, while others operate primarily remotely. Ask about the team's actual travel history, expected percentage, customer locations, and how travel affects working hours.

Should I Choose FDE or SWE as a New Graduate?

Choose based on the skills you need to develop. If you want deeper coding and systems experience, SWE may be the stronger first step, while forward deployed engineering for new grads can work well if you want early customer exposure and already have solid engineering fundamentals.