PraxisIQ FDE Community
Build AI where the work happens.
Join a curated community of engineers and specialists learning to turn real business problems into production-ready AI solutions.
Founding cohort applications are now open.
Progression
- Learning pathway6 of 6 modules
- Certification4 verified
- ShadowingCo-own stage
- Project readinessIn review
Credentials
- Enterprise AI foundationsMar 2026
- Workflow discoveryMar 2026
- Agentic systemsApr 2026
- Responsible AI and controlsApr 2026
- Production deploymentMay 2026
- Customer delivery readinessJun 2026
Verification status, issuer, and evidence recorded on every entry.
Not consulting. Not staff augmentation. Ownership.
A Forward-Deployed Engineer works directly with customer teams to identify operational problems, build practical AI solutions, and move those solutions into real-world use.
- 01
Find the real problem
Translate an ambiguous business problem into a defined, measurable AI use case.
- 02
Build in the real environment
Design agents, workflows, integrations, controls, and evaluations inside the customer's systems.
- 03
Own the outcome
Stay accountable through deployment, stabilization, adoption, and handoff.
A practical example
From an operational bottleneck to a governed AI workflow.
An FDE might work alongside a finance team to understand a manual reconciliation process, map the systems and approval rules involved, build an AI-assisted workflow, test it against real records, and help the customer adopt it while preserving human approval for financial decisions.
- 01
Discover the workflow and measurable problem
- 02
Design the solution, integrations, controls, and evaluation criteria
- 03
Build and test in the customer environment
- 04
Deploy, measure adoption, and improve the workflow
Different backgrounds. One delivery standard.
- Software and AI engineers
- Data engineers and architects
- Cloud and platform engineers
- Solutions architects
- Technical consultants
- Functional and industry specialists
- Experienced technology leaders
- University students and early-career builders with demonstrated ability
You do not need to fit only one of these categories. Many of the strongest applicants sit across two or three of them.
Apply, qualify, learn, certify, shadow, deploy, advance.
- 01
Apply
Tell us about your experience, skills, and interests.
- 02
Qualify
Complete an initial review and qualification conversation.
- 03
Learn
Follow a technical and delivery pathway based on your background.
- Claude and Claude Code
- Microsoft Azure AI and Microsoft Foundry
- Agentic systems and workflow engineering
- AI governance, controls, and evaluations
- Customer discovery and delivery readiness
- 04
Certify
Demonstrate technical, business, and responsible-AI readiness.
- Claude and Claude Code
- Microsoft Azure AI and Microsoft Foundry
- Agentic systems and workflow engineering
- AI governance, controls, and evaluations
- Customer discovery and delivery readiness
- 05
Shadow
Learn alongside experienced practitioners on realistic or live engagements.
- 06
Deploy
Become eligible to contribute to customer projects.
- 07
Advance
Build deeper specialties, mentor others, and lead engagements.
Community membership, training, and certification establish eligibility for opportunities but do not guarantee employment, compensation, or project placement.
Third-party certifications are issued by their own providers, such as Anthropic or Microsoft. PraxisIQ issues its own community credentials and does not issue certifications on behalf of any third party.
Learning, mentorship, and a record of what you can do.
- Applied AI and platform learning
- The PraxisIQ FDE delivery methodology
- Practitioner-led office hours
- Mentorship and peer learning
- Practical build challenges
- Credentials and community recognition
- Opportunities to shadow engagements
- Eligibility for future PraxisIQ projects
Founding members may receive complimentary training, practitioner office hours, early credentials, and priority consideration for mentorship and project opportunities.
Limited sponsored development credits may be made available for approved learning exercises, subject to availability and program terms.
How participation works
Built to develop real project readiness.
Members follow a pathway matched to their background, availability, and area of practice. Learning may include self-directed modules, live practitioner sessions, build challenges, certification reviews, and mentored project shadowing.
Flexible learning
Complete assigned learning and build work around your existing professional or academic commitments.
Practitioner sessions
Participate in office hours, technical reviews, and delivery discussions led by experienced practitioners.
Verified readiness
Build a record of completed learning, certifications, practical work, and demonstrated delivery capabilities.
Project eligibility
Qualified members may become eligible for PraxisIQ project opportunities based on skills, readiness, availability, location, and customer requirements.
Community membership and certification establish eligibility for opportunities but do not guarantee employment, compensation, or project placement.
The qualities that hold up in a customer environment.
- Strong technical or functional expertise
- Curiosity and practical problem-solving
- Ability to work with customers
- Clear communication and documentation
- Commitment to responsible AI
- Reliability and delivery discipline
- Willingness to learn the PraxisIQ methodology
Choose where you go deep.
- Agentic workflow engineeringEngineering
- Data and systems integrationEngineering
- AI governance and evaluationsEngineering
- Application modernizationEngineering
- Azure and Microsoft FoundryPlatforms
- Claude and Claude CodePlatforms
- Finance operationsOperations
- Revenue operationsOperations
- Marketing operationsOperations
- HR operationsOperations
- Professional-services operationsOperations
- Industry and functional specialistsOperations
FDE Community
Do your best work where it matters.
Applications for the founding cohort are open, and our team reviews every one.
Complete a short application so we can understand your background, interests, and potential pathway.
Questions people ask before applying.
- What is a Forward-Deployed Engineer?
- A Forward-Deployed Engineer works directly with customer teams to identify operational problems, build practical AI solutions, and move those solutions into real-world use.
- Do I need to be a software engineer?
- No. Data, cloud, platform, and solutions professionals apply, and so do functional and industry specialists. Strong problem-solving and the ability to work with customers matter most.
- Is there a cost to join?
- There is no application fee. Founding cohort members may receive complimentary training and practitioner office hours. Any future paid options would be described clearly before you commit.
- Does acceptance guarantee paid work?
- No. Community membership, training, and certification establish eligibility for opportunities but do not guarantee employment, compensation, or project placement.
- What happens after I apply?
- We review your background, then invite candidates who look like a potential fit to a qualification conversation. From there you move into the learning and certification pathway.
- Can students and early-career applicants apply?
- Yes. University students and early-career builders with demonstrated ability are welcome to apply.
- Is the community limited to the United States?
- No. Applications are open internationally. Project eligibility can depend on customer requirements, time zones, and work authorization.
- What training or certifications are required?
- You complete a learning pathway matched to your background, then demonstrate technical, business, and responsible-AI readiness. Qualifying third-party certifications can be recorded as verified.
Community membership, training, and certification establish eligibility for opportunities but do not guarantee employment, compensation, or project placement.