Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)

About Us At Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world’s largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging from individual bloggers to SMBs to Fortune 500 companies. Cloudflare protects and accelerates any Internet application online without adding hardware, installing software, or changing a line of code. Internet properties powered by Cloudflare all have web traffic routed through its intelligent global network, which gets smarter with every request. As a result, they see significant improvement in performance and a decrease in spam and other attacks. Cloudflare was named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Company Cultures list and ranked among the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company. At Cloudflare, we’re not looking for people who wait for a polished roadmap; we’re looking for the builders who see the cracks in the Internet that everyone else has simply learned to live with. We value candidates who have the instinct to spot a "normalized" problem and the AI-native curiosity to create a solution using the latest tools. Our culture is built on iteration, leveraging AI to ship faster today to make it better tomorrow, while ensuring that every improvement, no matter how small, is shared across the team to lift everyone up. If you’re the type of person who values curiosity over bureaucracy, and that AI is a partner in solving tough problems to keep the Internet moving forward, you’ll fit right in. Available Locations: Austin/TX, Dallas/TX, Atlanta/GA, NYC Role Summary As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you will be a dedicated Cloudflare expert directly embedded within the team of one of our most strategic and fast-paced customers. You will serve as the primary technical resource, architecting complex multi-stage migrations and providing the hands-on configuration necessary to drive the success of unique web infrastructure requirements. We are looking for a proactive, high-trust partner who thrives in agile environments, acts as a bridge to internal product teams, and possesses a deep passion for the future of AI-driven security. Role Responsibilities • Customer Engagement & Technical Leadership: Serve as a trusted advisor to key enterprise customers, providing technical insights, best practices, and strategic recommendations that support their business goals and drive success with Cloudflare’s solutions in particular Cloudflare’s worker and workers AI platforms. Lead architectural discussions, design sessions, and solution reviews to ensure the optimal application of Cloudflare’s offerings in customer environments. Diagnose complex technical issues and deliver effective, strategic solutions in collaboration with the support and product teams. • Architect Application Security: Design and configure comprehensive, tailored solutions with a focus on Application Security, utilizing Cloudflare Workers to optimize and direct global traffic and Network Security. • Master Infrastructure as Code: Support the account team by navigating and managing complex configurations heavily reliant on Terraform to ensure seamless operational stability. • Act as a Strategic Liaison: Serve as a high-speed conduit between the customer and internal Cloudflare teams (Product, Support, Engineering), effectively advocating for customer needs and influencing product roadmaps. • Navigate Modern Communication: Manage complex, fast-moving technical discussions primarily through Slack, acting as a guide for the customer even when formal calls are difficult to schedule. • Drive AI Innovation: Leverage your deep knowledge of AI/LLM concepts to align Cloudflare’s capabilities with the customer’s AI-focused culture and future technological goals. • Provide Long-Term Guidance: Stay with the account post-migration as a trusted advisor to identify future strategic initiatives, including a transition into Network Security and SASE architectures. Role Requirements Must-Have Skills • 10+ Years of Technical Customer Facing Experience: Proven track record as a technical architect or lead on complex, enterprise-level projects within cloud networks, web infrastructure, or security. • Application Security Expertise: Extensive and proven knowledge of development platforms such as Cloudflare’s Application Security, Workers and Workers AI, cybersecurity, web performance, and cloud infrastructure. • Terraform Proficiency: Extensive experience implementing and supporting complex technical solutions using Terraform for infrastructure management. • High-Stakes Relationship Management: Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport in challenging environments, remaining flexible and persistent in establishing regular cadences with stakeholders. • Advanced Communication: Exceptional ability to navigate "Slack-first" communication cultures, providing clear guidance and managing technical threads under pressure. • AI/LLM Knowledge: A strong technical understanding of and passion for AI/LLM concepts, fitting the culture of a cutting-edge AI-centric organization. • Technical Background: Strong knowledge of networking protocols, cybersecurity, and industry standards (e.g., Zero Trust/SASE). Nice-to-Have Skills • Network Security Background: Experience or strong interest in transitioning application-heavy environments toward comprehensive Network Security and SASE models. • Scripting & Automation: Proficiency in coding languages beyond Terraform to automate tasks at scale and build proof-of-concept setups. • Financial Acumen: Experience managing or advising on project-based fund pools to maximize the value of a customer's strategic investment. Compensation Compensation may be adjusted depending on work location. For New York City, New Jersey based hires: Estimated annual salary of $184,000 - $253,000 Equity This role is eligible to participate in Cloudflare’s equity plan. Benefits Cloudflare offer