Traditional software engineering job listings have dropped by 70%, yet Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) roles have exploded by over 800% this year. We sit down with Mo Fagir, Principal Technical Consultant at ServiceNow, to break down exactly why this shift is happening and how you can pivot your career to ride this AI adoption wave. In this episode, we cover: The massive market shift: Why "pure coding" jobs are declining while FDEs are booming. The exact technical stack and soft skills required to land these high-paying roles. How to overcome imposter syndrome and build a portfolio that gets you hired, even as a junior. Why this isn't just a trend, but the future of how engineering delivers value. Connect with Mo Fagir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-nour-tarig Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:14 - Why software jobs dropped 70% while FDEs grew over 800% 00:02:55 - Why companies can't implement AI without Forward Deployed Engineers 00:05:36 - Is this career path safe for traditional software engineers? 00:07:54 - The exact technical stack you need to master today 00:10:48 - Moving from engineering scope to product centric thinking 00:16:15 - Can juniors and early career devs get hired as FDEs? 00:19:12 - How to build a portfolio that gets you hired 00:22:17 - Why passion and attitude beat experience in the AI era 00:24:33 - How to train yourself to have a sense of urgency 00:29:05 - Can introverts succeed in client facing engineering roles? 00:32:17 - Lessons learned from interning at NASA and researching AI 00:35:09 - Are we in an AI bubble that will burst soon? 00:40:34 - Does becoming an FDE risk vendor lock-in for your career? 00:43:36 - Final advice for engineers entering the 2025 job market #ForwardDeployedEngineer #FDE #SoftwareCareers
