AI boom sparks rush for engineers who can speak both code and business

As enterprises and Global Capability Centers (GCCs) accelerate AI adoption, demand is growing for a new generation of engineers who can bridge technical expertise with business outcomes. Organizations are increasingly seeking professionals who can combine software engineering capabilities with customer engagement, product implementation, and strategic problem-solving.

Our Chief Business Officer, Neelabh Shukla, said, “While customer-facing engineering roles have existed globally for decades under various titles, the FDE construct has emerged as a distinct role focused on bridging product engineering and customer outcomes.”

He added, “In India, the role is still at a nascent stage but is gaining traction rapidly as enterprises and GCCs accelerate the implementation of AI solutions and seek technical talent capable of not only coding but also driving adoption and business impact.”

Highlighting the talent challenge, he further noted, “The shortage stems from the profile itself. This isn’t a role you can fill with a generalist software engineer or a traditional domain expert alone, as it requires both, in the same person, at a high level of competence.”