Lead complex data and AI deployments as a Forward Deployed Engineer – Associate Director for Accenture Palantir Business Group in London. This is a senior, full-time leadership role involving direct client partnership, team mentorship, and AI strategy execution in high-stakes environments.
Requirements
Proven track record of leading large, complex data and AI delivery programmes in embedded or Forward Deployed engineering environments.
Strong hands-on engineering foundations across cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), modern data tooling (Databricks, Snowflake, dbt), and AI frameworks.
Fluency in Python, SQL, and at least one of TypeScript/React or PySpark.
Demonstrated ability to advise C-suite and Director-level stakeholders.
Satisfactory BPSS and SC security clearance requiring 5 years continuous UK address history.
No specific degree requirement stated.
Skills & Responsibilities
Python and SQL: Set engineering standards and mentor senior practitioners across core languages and data paradigms.
Cloud and Data Tooling: Drive architecture and implementation decisions using platforms like Databricks, Snowflake, and dbt.
AI Integration Strategy: Lead the engineering effort for agentic workflows, LLM-powered tooling, and AI-native application patterns.
Stakeholder Management: Operate as a trusted advisor to C-suite clients, navigating complex organizational environments and resolving high-pressure escalations.
Potential transition routes: People from senior engineering leadership, solutions architecture, or technical consulting roles may bring relevant cloud, data, and stakeholder management skills, alongside meeting executive delivery requirements.
Job description
Role: Forward Deployed Engineer – Associate Director Location: London Career Level: Associate Director (ML5)
About Decho (part of Accenture)
Accenture Palantir Business Group (APBG) is a deep data and AI group founded on an innate desire to create real-world change. We are consulting engineers with a purpose, offering a ‘boots on the ground’ approach to complex public and private sector challenges. As a trusted Palantir partner we help our clients to extract the most value from their technology.
We are working at the cutting edge of Palantir technology and harnessing its capabilities with purpose. Our teams are united in their mission to be drivers of positive change in the world’s most influential organisations. This includes strengthening our advantage in the defence, infrastructure and public safety - empowering more public and private institutions to unlock their full potential.
As a team:
The APBG practice embeds directly within our clients’ organisations to accelerate the delivery of complex Palantir Foundry solutions - moving fast, solving hard problems, and translating cutting-edge technology into measurable business outcomes. We operate at the intersection of deep technical execution and senior client partnership, and we are proud to work on some of the most consequential data and AI challenges facing the world’s largest organisations.
At Associate Director level, you are a cornerstone of the FDE practice - not only leading the most complex and high-profile client deployments, but actively shaping how the practice grows, how our people develop, and how we continuously raise the bar on what Forward Deployed Engineering looks and feels like at Accenture.
In our team you will:
Own and lead large-scale, high-stakes client deployments end-to-end, with full accountability for delivery outcomes, client satisfaction, and commercial success
Operate as a senior technical leader and trusted advisor to C-suite and Director-level client stakeholders, navigating complex organisational environments with confidence and credibility
Shape the strategic direction of the FDE practice - contributing to hiring, capability development, community building, and the evolution of our delivery model
Mentor and develop a cohort of Senior Managers and engineers, driving their growth into senior leadership roles
Represent the FDE practice in internal and external forums, contributing to thought leadership, business development, and Accenture’s profile in the AI and data engineering market
As an Forward Deployed Engineer – Associate Director, you will:
Take full executive ownership of client engagement strategy - from problem discovery and programme design through to delivery governance, change management, and long-term relationship stewardship at the most senior levels
Lead multiple deployment teams or a large complex programme, ensuring engineering quality, delivery pace, and client outcomes are consistently achieved across workstreams
Set the technical direction for engagements, making high-stakes architecture and tooling decisions and ensuring implementation remains aligned with both client objectives and best practice
Act as the ultimate escalation point for technical and client relationship challenges, providing decisive, experienced leadership in high-pressure situations
Drive AI integration strategy across client programmes -identifying where agentic workflows, LLM-powered tooling, and AI-native application patterns can fundamentally change what is possible for the client, and leading the engineering effort to make it real
Build and sustain executive-level client relationships that extend beyond individual engagements, positioning Accenture as a long-term strategic partner and identifying opportunities for practice growth
Lead the development of reusable FDE assets -including reference implementations, delivery accelerators, onboarding frameworks, and engineering playbooks -that compound value across the practice
Contribute directly to the growth and hiring of the FDE practice, playing an active role in recruitment, capability assessment, and the development of our talent pipeline
Partner with Sales and Account leadership to shape and win new FDE opportunities, contributing to proposals, client presentations, and commercial strategy
Champion a high-performance, low-ego engineering culture -driving our show-and-tell ethos, cross-practice knowledge sharing, and a community where every level is visible, supported, and growing
Please Note: Any offer of employment is subject to satisfactory BPSS and SC security clearance which requires 5 years continuous UK address history (typically including no periods of 30 consecutive days or more spent outside of the UK) at the point of application. The above information relates to a specific client requirement'
We are looking for experience in the following skills:
A proven track record of leading large, complex data and AI delivery programmes in embedded or Forward Deployed engineering environments, with full accountability for outcomes at the most senior level
Demonstrated ability to operate as a trusted advisor and technical authority with C-suite and Director-level client stakeholders, including navigating politically complex and high-pressure environments
Strong hands-on engineering foundations across the modern data and AI stack -you have led from the front technically and can engage with depth on platform, architecture, and implementation decisions
Deep experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and modern data tooling including platforms such as Databricks, Snowflake, and dbt, alongside AI development frameworks and LLM integration patterns
Fluency in core engineering languages and paradigms (Python, SQL, and at least one of TypeScript/React or PySpark), with the engineering credibility to set standards and mentor senior practitioners
Proven experience building and scaling a team or community of practice, including hiring, developing, and retaining senior engineering talent
Exceptional communication and influencing skills -able to translate complex technical concepts for executive audiences and drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups
Experience contributing to business development, including shaping proposals, presenting to senior clients, and identifying opportunities for engagement growth
High emotional intelligence and the ability to build trust rapidly within new client environments, adapting leadership style to the culture and dynamics of each organisation
A proactive, impact-driven mindset -you care deeply about the real-world outcomes your work creates, and you hold yourself and your teams to the highest standards of delivery and integrity
What’s in it for you:
At Accenture, in addition to a competitive basic salary, you will have an extensive benefits package which includes 30 days vacation, gym subsidy, private medical insurance and 3 extra days leave per year for charitable work of your choice.
Flexibility and mobility are required to deliver this role as there will be requirements to spend time onsite with our clients and partners to enable delivery of the first-class services we are known for.
Accenture reserves the right to close the role prior to this date should a suitable applicant be found.
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About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent- and innovation-led company with approximately 791,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. Our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities.
We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences. All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by applicable law. Our rich diversity makes us more innovative, more competitive, and more creative, which helps us better serve our clients and our communities.
