[Hiring] Principal Forward Deployed Engineer @CI&T

Role Description

We are looking for a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to lead complex system modernization initiatives, combining deep architecture and technical leadership expertise with modern AI-assisted engineering practices.

In this role, you will take ownership of modernization missions from initial scope through technical execution, working closely with engineering teams and client stakeholders to:

• Understand legacy environments
• Define transition architectures
• Drive the evolution of complex systems

You will combine strategic architectural thinking with hands-on technical involvement, using AI-assisted development and analysis techniques to accelerate reverse engineering, documentation, testing, and modernization activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical direction of complex legacy system modernization initiatives, from initial assessment through transition and implementation.
• Analyze existing applications, architectures, dependencies, databases, and business logic to build a comprehensive understanding of legacy environments.
• Define and plan transition architectures and modernization strategies, including the progressive refactoring of legacy systems.
• Guide the modernization of database components, including stored procedures and database-dependent application logic.
• Use AI tooling to analyze existing codebases and generate high-quality technical documentation that supports modernization decisions and engineering execution.
• Apply structured AI-driven development workflows, particularly reverse engineering, Spec-Driven Development (SDD), and test generation.
• Translate an initial mission and scope into an actionable technical plan and continuously evolve it as new information and constraints emerge.
• Take end-to-end ownership of technical delivery while providing direction and structure to the broader engineering team.
• Remain actively involved in the engineering process, supporting architecture decisions, technical analysis, troubleshooting, and implementation when needed.
• Communicate technical progress, risks, dependencies, and architectural decisions clearly to technical and client stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted technical interface between client stakeholders and a fast-paced engineering team.

Qualifications

• Experience working with system modernization projects in an architecture or technical leadership role.
• Strong experience planning system transition architectures and defining modernization approaches for complex legacy environments.
• Hands-on experience refactoring legacy systems, including systems involving database stored procedures.
• Knowledge of legacy Microsoft IE5 HTCs and DHTML architectures.
• Proven experience using AI tools to generate high-quality technical documentation from existing codebases under analysis.
• Practical knowledge of structured AI-driven software development workflows, particularly reverse engineering, Spec-Driven Development (SDD), and automated test generation.
• Demonstrated ability to take an initial mission and scope, own it end-to-end, and evolve it independently, both for yourself and the engineering team.
• Strong architecture, technical leadership, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex environments with ambiguity and evolving requirements.

Nice to Have

• Practical, hands-on experience with Cursor.
• A strong preference for and track record of hands-on involvement in the engineering process, even when operating in architecture or technical leadership roles.
• Experience using software profiling, architecture analysis, or application intelligence tools, such as CAST Imaging.
• Fluent business English, with the ability to communicate effectively in technical and client-facing environments.
• Experience preparing and presenting project status reports to technical stakeholders.
• Ability to project manage and coordinate other engineers while maintaining technical ownership.
• Experience acting as a professional client interface, connecting client stakeholders with a high-speed engineering team.

Benefits

• Health and dental insurance
• Meal and food allowance
• Childcare assistance
• Extended paternity leave
• Partnership with gyms and health and wellness professionals via Wellhub (Gympass) TotalPass
• Profit Sharing and Results Participation (PLR)
• Life insurance
• Continuous learning platform (CI&T University)
• Discount club
• Free online platform dedicated to physical, mental, and overall well-being
• Pregnancy and responsible parenting course
• Partnerships with online learning platforms
• Language learning platform
• And many more!

More details about our benefits here: https://ciandt.com/br/pt-br/carreiras