Hiring options
Contract forward deployed engineers
Bring in a forward deployed engineer for a defined piece of AI work: vetted on shipped work, matched to your systems, with the option to hire them permanently later.
When a contract FDE is the right call
Skills now, without a permanent hire
A defined piece of work
A deployment, an integration or a first production release with a clear end.
A deadline
The work cannot wait for a permanent search to finish.
Uncertain long-term need
You want to see what the role involves before creating a permanent position.
Timing
How long contract FDE work usually runs
It depends on the work, and published models vary widely: Palantir runs bootcamps of up to five days, AWS runs 45-day sprints, and Salesforce pairs FDEs with a client for about three months.
Most contract engagements are agreed for an initial period and extended as the work changes.
Sources: Palantir; CIO Dive, June 2026; Salesforce, November 2025.
After the contract
Converting, handing over, and ownership
Converting to a hire
If you want to keep the engineer, contract to hire lets you convert them. The terms are agreed at the start.
Handing over
Code and documentation live in your repositories and systems, so your team can carry the work on.
Who owns the code
Your contract sets out ownership and how intellectual property is assigned. Engineers work under your policies and in your environment.
Hire FDEs
Need a contract FDE?
Tell us the work, the systems and the timing. We match engineers whose shipped work fits the problem.