90-DAY ROADMAP

Engineering Manager to FDE
in 90 Days

A 13-week plan for Engineering Managers transitioning to Forward Deployed Engineer. Emphasis on restoring coding ability and building independent projects.

TAKE THE ASSESSMENT EXPLORE SKILLS

Engineering Manager to FDE roadmap overview

6 Phases Over 13 Weeks

Phase · Week 1–2

FDE Foundation

Build the core understanding of the FDE role, customer-facing mindset, and business context.

The FDE Role & Mindset

4 tasks · 8 hours · Written reflection on your current role vs FDE role

expand_more

Understand what FDEs do, how the role differs from Engineering Manager, and the hands-on builder mindset.

Read: What Forward Deployed Engineers Actually Dolearn90m

Map EM Skills to FDE Needspractice60m

Write: From Leader to Builderpractice45m

Assess Current Coding Abilitypractice45m

Coding Restoration & Dev Environment

4 tasks · 8 hours · Working development environment with 2+ coding exercises completed

expand_more

Restore hands-on coding ability and set up a productive development environment.

Set Up Development Environmentpractice60m

Complete Coding Exercise: API Endpointpractice90m

Complete Coding Exercise: Data Processingpractice90m

Leverage EM Strengthspractice30m

Phase · Week 3–4

Customer Discovery

Develop client-facing skills: user interviews, problem framing, workflow mapping, and stakeholder alignment.

User Interviews & Discovery

5 tasks · 8 hours · Conducted 2 practice discovery interviews

expand_more

Learn structured user interview techniques. Leverage your experience managing technical teams.

Study FDE Discovery Techniqueslearn90m

Conduct Practice Discovery Interview #1practice60m

Conduct Practice Discovery Interview #2practice60m

Add Architecture Assessment to Discoverypractice60m

Compare EM vs FDE Discoverypractice30m

Problem Framing & Architecture Decisions

4 tasks · 8 hours · Problem statement and architecture decision document

expand_more

Frame customer problems and make architectural decisions with technical depth.

Learn Problem Framing with Architecturelearn90m

Create Architecture Decision Recordspractice120m

Scope Project with Technical Depthpractice60m

Practice Independent Decision Makingpractice45m

Phase · Week 5–7

AI Solution Building

Design and build AI-powered solutions: system architecture, LLM integration, prototyping, and data pipelines.

System Architecture for AI Solutions

4 tasks · 8 hours · Architecture diagram for an AI-powered customer solution

expand_more

Design scalable system architectures for enterprise AI applications.

Study AI Solution Architecturelearn90m

Design Architecture Independentlypractice120m

Document Independent Architecture Decisionspractice60m

Self-Review Architecturepractice45m

Building with LLM APIs

4 tasks · 8 hours · Working LLM-powered prototype with error handling

expand_more

Build rapid prototypes using LLM APIs. Restore hands-on building confidence.

Deep Dive into LLM API Integrationlearn90m

Build LLM Prototypepractice120m

Self Code Reviewpractice60m

Apply EM Code Quality Standardspractice60m

Full AI Application Build

3 tasks · 8 hours · Complete AI application with all components

expand_more

Design Complete AI Applicationpractice60m

Build Complete AI Applicationpractice180m

Add EM Perspective to Projectpractice60m

Phase · Week 8–9

Production Delivery

Deploy and operate solutions in production: CI/CD, observability, release planning, and incident handling.

Deployment & DevOps

4 tasks · 8 hours · Deployed application with CI/CD pipeline

expand_more

Deploy your application with proper CI/CD. Apply your ops management experience hands-on.

Set Up CI/CD Pipelinepractice120m

Deploy to Productionpractice90m

Create Release Planpractice60m

Containerize Applicationpractice60m

Production Operations & Incident Response

4 tasks · 8 hours · Monitoring dashboard, incident runbook, and practiced incident response

expand_more

Set up monitoring, handle incidents, and practice production operations hands-on.

Implement Monitoring Hands-Onpractice90m

Practice Incident Responsepractice90m

Write Incident Runbookpractice60m

Bridge EM Ops to FDE Opspractice30m

Phase · Week 10–11

Communication & Portfolio

Craft compelling demos, executive presentations, and build an FDE-relevant portfolio.

W10

Technical Demos & Explanation

4 tasks · 8 hours · Recorded 5-minute demo of your project

expand_more

Deliver compelling demos combining your technical depth with executive communication skills.

Write Demo Scriptpractice60m

Record Demo Videopractice90m

Practice Technical Explanationpractice60m

Leverage EM Communication Edgepractice30m

W11

Executive Communication & Portfolio

4 tasks · 8 hours · Executive presentation and polished portfolio

expand_more

Build executive presentations and portfolio showcasing your EM-to-FDE journey.

Create Executive Presentationpractice90m

Build Portfolio Pagepractice120m

Write FDE-Ready Resume Bulletspractice60m

Practice Executive Presentationpractice45m

Phase · Week 12–13

Interview Readiness

Prepare for FDE interviews: behavioral, system design, customer scenarios, and portfolio presentation.

W12

Behavioral & System Design Prep

4 tasks · 8 hours · Interview prep covering behavioral and technical areas

expand_more

Prepare for FDE interviews with emphasis on technical depth and leadership-in-action stories.

Prepare Behavioral Interview Answerspractice90m

Practice System Designpractice90m

Mock FDE Interviewpractice60m

Practice Customer Scenariospractice60m

W13

Final Review & Launch

4 tasks · 8 hours · Polished portfolio and FDE-ready resume

expand_more

Polish portfolio, update resume, and prepare for FDE job applications.

Polish Portfoliopractice90m

Finalize FDE Resumepractice60m

Create Interview Checklistpractice30m

Write EM-to-FDE Reflectionpractice30m

What You'll Deliver in 90 Days

A publicly accessible, production-ready application

A Discovery Brief and Solution Brief

A complete FDE Case Study

A presentable Portfolio project

A targeted FDE resume

System design, customer scenario, and behavioral interview answers

Start Your Engineering Manager → FDE Journey

Take the free assessment to personalize your roadmap, or explore the full skill map.

START FREE ASSESSMENT ALL ROADMAPS

6 Phases Over 13 Weeks

Phase · Week 1–2

FDE Foundation

Build the core understanding of the FDE role, customer-facing mindset, and business context.

The FDE Role & Mindset

4 tasks · 8 hours · Written reflection on your current role vs FDE role

expand_more

Understand what FDEs do, how the role differs from Engineering Manager, and the hands-on builder mindset.

Read: What Forward Deployed Engineers Actually Dolearn90m

Map EM Skills to FDE Needspractice60m

Write: From Leader to Builderpractice45m

Assess Current Coding Abilitypractice45m

Coding Restoration & Dev Environment

4 tasks · 8 hours · Working development environment with 2+ coding exercises completed

expand_more

Restore hands-on coding ability and set up a productive development environment.

Set Up Development Environmentpractice60m

Complete Coding Exercise: API Endpointpractice90m

Complete Coding Exercise: Data Processingpractice90m

Leverage EM Strengthspractice30m

Phase · Week 3–4

Customer Discovery

Develop client-facing skills: user interviews, problem framing, workflow mapping, and stakeholder alignment.

User Interviews & Discovery

5 tasks · 8 hours · Conducted 2 practice discovery interviews

expand_more

Learn structured user interview techniques. Leverage your experience managing technical teams.

Study FDE Discovery Techniqueslearn90m

Conduct Practice Discovery Interview #1practice60m

Conduct Practice Discovery Interview #2practice60m

Add Architecture Assessment to Discoverypractice60m

Compare EM vs FDE Discoverypractice30m

Problem Framing & Architecture Decisions

4 tasks · 8 hours · Problem statement and architecture decision document

expand_more

Frame customer problems and make architectural decisions with technical depth.

Learn Problem Framing with Architecturelearn90m

Create Architecture Decision Recordspractice120m

Scope Project with Technical Depthpractice60m

Practice Independent Decision Makingpractice45m

Phase · Week 5–7

AI Solution Building

Design and build AI-powered solutions: system architecture, LLM integration, prototyping, and data pipelines.

System Architecture for AI Solutions

4 tasks · 8 hours · Architecture diagram for an AI-powered customer solution

expand_more

Design scalable system architectures for enterprise AI applications.

Study AI Solution Architecturelearn90m

Design Architecture Independentlypractice120m

Document Independent Architecture Decisionspractice60m

Self-Review Architecturepractice45m

Building with LLM APIs

4 tasks · 8 hours · Working LLM-powered prototype with error handling

expand_more

Build rapid prototypes using LLM APIs. Restore hands-on building confidence.

Deep Dive into LLM API Integrationlearn90m

Build LLM Prototypepractice120m

Self Code Reviewpractice60m

Apply EM Code Quality Standardspractice60m

Full AI Application Build

3 tasks · 8 hours · Complete AI application with all components

expand_more

Design Complete AI Applicationpractice60m

Build Complete AI Applicationpractice180m

Add EM Perspective to Projectpractice60m

Phase · Week 8–9

Production Delivery

Deploy and operate solutions in production: CI/CD, observability, release planning, and incident handling.

Deployment & DevOps

4 tasks · 8 hours · Deployed application with CI/CD pipeline

expand_more

Deploy your application with proper CI/CD. Apply your ops management experience hands-on.

Set Up CI/CD Pipelinepractice120m

Deploy to Productionpractice90m

Create Release Planpractice60m

Containerize Applicationpractice60m

Production Operations & Incident Response

4 tasks · 8 hours · Monitoring dashboard, incident runbook, and practiced incident response

expand_more

Set up monitoring, handle incidents, and practice production operations hands-on.

Implement Monitoring Hands-Onpractice90m

Practice Incident Responsepractice90m

Write Incident Runbookpractice60m

Bridge EM Ops to FDE Opspractice30m

Phase · Week 10–11

Communication & Portfolio

Craft compelling demos, executive presentations, and build an FDE-relevant portfolio.

W10

Technical Demos & Explanation

4 tasks · 8 hours · Recorded 5-minute demo of your project

expand_more

Deliver compelling demos combining your technical depth with executive communication skills.

Write Demo Scriptpractice60m

Record Demo Videopractice90m

Practice Technical Explanationpractice60m

Leverage EM Communication Edgepractice30m

W11

Executive Communication & Portfolio

4 tasks · 8 hours · Executive presentation and polished portfolio

expand_more

Build executive presentations and portfolio showcasing your EM-to-FDE journey.

Create Executive Presentationpractice90m

Build Portfolio Pagepractice120m

Write FDE-Ready Resume Bulletspractice60m

Practice Executive Presentationpractice45m

Phase · Week 12–13

Interview Readiness

Prepare for FDE interviews: behavioral, system design, customer scenarios, and portfolio presentation.

W12

Behavioral & System Design Prep

4 tasks · 8 hours · Interview prep covering behavioral and technical areas

expand_more

Prepare for FDE interviews with emphasis on technical depth and leadership-in-action stories.

Prepare Behavioral Interview Answerspractice90m

Practice System Designpractice90m

Mock FDE Interviewpractice60m

Practice Customer Scenariospractice60m

W13

Final Review & Launch

4 tasks · 8 hours · Polished portfolio and FDE-ready resume

expand_more

Polish portfolio, update resume, and prepare for FDE job applications.

Polish Portfoliopractice90m

Finalize FDE Resumepractice60m

Create Interview Checklistpractice30m

Write EM-to-FDE Reflectionpractice30m

Engineering Manager to FDEin 90 Days

6 Phases Over 13 Weeks

FDE Foundation

The FDE Role & Mindset

Coding Restoration & Dev Environment

Customer Discovery

User Interviews & Discovery

Problem Framing & Architecture Decisions

AI Solution Building

System Architecture for AI Solutions

Building with LLM APIs

Full AI Application Build

Production Delivery

Deployment & DevOps

Production Operations & Incident Response

Communication & Portfolio

Technical Demos & Explanation

Executive Communication & Portfolio

Interview Readiness

Behavioral & System Design Prep

Final Review & Launch

What You'll Deliver in 90 Days

Start Your Engineering Manager → FDE Journey

Engineering Manager to FDEin 90 Days

6 Phases Over 13 Weeks

FDE Foundation

The FDE Role & Mindset

Coding Restoration & Dev Environment

Customer Discovery

User Interviews & Discovery

Problem Framing & Architecture Decisions

AI Solution Building

System Architecture for AI Solutions

Building with LLM APIs

Full AI Application Build

Production Delivery

Deployment & DevOps

Production Operations & Incident Response

Communication & Portfolio

Technical Demos & Explanation

Executive Communication & Portfolio

Interview Readiness

Behavioral & System Design Prep

Final Review & Launch

What You'll Deliver in 90 Days

Start Your Engineering Manager → FDE Journey

Engineering Manager to FDE
in 90 Days

Engineering Manager to FDE
in 90 Days