EY launches Forward Deployed Engineer roles to scale AI into production

• EY is recruiting Forward Deployed Engineers – senior AI engineers working directly with clients – to meet growing demand for end-to-end AI support
• The engineers will work within EY client teams to design, build, and operationalise AI across client engagements
• The new roles strengthen EY’s ability to support organisations as they convert AI investment into enterprise-wide impact

EY has launched Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) roles in the UK and Ireland to help clients accelerate priority AI use cases from experimentation into scaled, production-ready deployment. 

The new team of FDEs - senior engineers who work directly inside client delivery teams - will design, build, integrate and operationalise AI solutions in live environments. Combining deep product design and engineering expertise with strong functional insight, the FDEs will help clients apply AI technology to high impact use cases such as operational transformation, insurance underwriting, claims processes, risk mapping and bank lending.  

Other specific examples of this work include, building a case‑triage model for a public sector department, and resolving performance bottlenecks in retail forecasting engines. 

Turning AI investment into scaled deployment 

While organisations continue to invest heavily in AI, many are facing challenges in moving beyond the experimentation phase and are underprepared for the risks of newer, autonomous AI models. EY research carried out last year found that 78% of UK organisations believe AI is either fully or mostly implemented across their organisation, yet almost half (49%) believe their organisation's approach is insufficient for the challenges posed by autonomous AI. 

The EY FDE function is designed to close the gap between AI ambition and enterprise deployment. Working directly within client delivery teams, FDEs will help shorten the path from concept to production, while embedding governance, regulatory compliance and risk controls from the outset. 

Preetham Peddanagari, Chief Technology Officer, EY UK & Ireland, commented: “Most enterprises have proven that AI works in isolated use cases, but far fewer have deployed AI consistently across their core operations. With the emergence of agentic AI increasing both potential value and complexity, CEOs and investors are now demanding tangible returns on AI investment. The limiting factor is no longer the ambition or initial funding, it’s the specialist AI engineering capabilities and ability to execute at scale.   

“EY’s investment in a dedicated Forward Deployed AI Engineering capability will help clients move forward - delivering the hands-on technical acceleration and functional expertise needed for production-ready AI that cuts across domains and siloes and meets business, regulatory and risk protocols from day one.” 

Sayeh Ghanbari, Consulting Managing Partner EY UK & Ireland, added: “AI is already embedded in how we work as a firm, and we continue to invest so our teams have the skills, and deep technical knowledge needed to lead clients our through a rapidly evolving era. These dedicated engineering roles are part of that firmwide commitment and reinforce our ability to support our clients to transform their businesses - quickly, responsibly and with confidence in what comes next.” 

EY.ai driving growth through global platform 

The launch of the FDE roles is the latest step in EY’s ongoing investment in AI capabilities. The announcement builds on its recent selection for the inaugural Frontier Firm AI Initiative, hosted by the Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard Business School in collaboration with Microsoft. The initiative brings together 14 organisations to study human-AI collaboration and turn research into practical guidance for leaders building “human-led, agent-operated” Frontier Firms.  

EY has also invested more than $1bn in developing its AI capabilities through the EY.ai platform. This includes investments in research and development, talent acquisition and firmwide upskilling, supported by an ecosystem of more than 100 strategic relationships and alliances that help bring clients the technology needed to transform at speed and scale. In FY25, the firm’s global AI related revenue grew by 30%, driven by enterprise-wide transformations and the delivery of AI governance frameworks that support the safe and responsible adoption of AI. 

Visit the EY careers page for further information on the roles.