Director - Forward Deployed Engineering

Company Overview

Lenovo is a global technology leader generating US$83 billion in revenue, positioned at #153 on the Fortune Global 500 list. Operating in 180 countries, Lenovo delivers innovative AI-enabled and AI-optimized products including PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets, and advanced infrastructure solutions. Committed to a vision of Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo continues to invest substantially in transformative innovation to build an equitable, trustworthy, and intelligent future worldwide.

Role Overview

The Lenovo Solutions Services Group is spearheading a company-wide AI transformation, embedding Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) directly within business units. The Director of Forward Deployed Engineering will lead and nurture a team of FDEs who identify valuable AI opportunities, translate them into practical business solutions, and achieve measurable impacts through agile sprint cycles. This role involves close collaboration with domain leaders, senior stakeholders, and platform teams to ensure smooth execution, unblock challenges, and secure adoption with clear business outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a group of FDEs embedded in business units to map workflows, pinpoint challenges, and discover high-impact AI opportunities through collaboration with domain leaders and experts.
• Establish standards for translating business problems into realistic, scoped use cases balancing ambition with feasibility focused on deployment and adoption.
• Oversee the design and construction of AI solutions utilizing appropriate tools such as Microsoft AI platforms, Retrieval-Augmented Generation pipelines, automation, and custom developments where necessary.
• Mentor the team to develop and iterate prototypes rapidly using short sprint cycles while upholding rigorous engineering standards.
• Develop and enforce reusable delivery methods, playbooks, and quality standards to scale FDE impact across multiple squads and business areas.
• Ensure accountability for widespread adoption by coordinating with change management resources and business owners to embed solutions in daily operations.
• Analyze post-deployment feedback, detect patterns across projects, and refine the FDE operating model continually.
• Shape the long-term FDE practice including engagement approaches, role definitions, reusable assets, and methods for quantifying business impact.
• Act as a senior liaison bridging business stakeholders, FDE teams, data groups, and platform partners to clarify priorities and technical constraints.
• Communicate progress, delivery risks, outcomes, and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical executives.

Candidate Profile

• Over 10 years of experience in software engineering, applied AI, solutions engineering, or technical leadership roles, including leading engineering teams.
• Strong technical expertise with readiness to engage hands-on through design review, issue troubleshooting, prototype validation, and guiding engineering decisions.
• Preferred experience leading AI, automation, or intelligent workflow solution teams in practical business environments.
• Hands-on familiarity with Microsoft AI platforms such as Copilot Studio, Azure OpenAI, Microsoft 365, and Power Platform.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities to explain complex technical topics simply, guide teams, and foster stakeholder trust.
• Proven success in defining operating models, delivery frameworks, standards, and talent development strategies in an expanding engineering organization.
• Strong engineering judgment to challenge solutions and support teams when standard tools do not suffice.
• Background in technical consulting, solutions architecture, customer-facing engineering, or managing field engineering teams.
• Experience in change enablement, user adoption strategies, or process redesign integrated with technical delivery.

Success Indicators

• Consistent delivery of functional solutions directly to users at sprint completion stages rather than conceptual presentations.
• Achieving measurable business benefits such as saved time, process enhancements, and faster decision-making.
• Building a committed FDE team with clear goals, coaching, execution discipline, and shared understanding of field deployment excellence.
• Establishing a scalable, repeatable, and continuously improving FDE practice as a core competency within Lenovo Solutions Services Group.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Lenovo is committed to equal opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants or employees based on race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected classification.