Find the problem worth deploying
Start where the customer’s work actually happens.
- Map a workflow and the decision it supports
- Size the value before writing any code
- Agree what done means with the people who will use it
All courses
Forward-Deployed AI Engineering
Go from zero code to a working AI solution and a deployment plan a customer signs off on.
Next cohortMar 8 – Apr 3, 2027
Length4 weeks
FormatLive cohort
PalantirWhere Rohan was a forward-deployed engineer
OpenAIRohan leads product for Codex
4 weeksLive, with your cohort
1 working solutionYour capstone, ready to deploy
Why this matters now
Every company wants AI in production. Few have someone who can put it there.
Models are no longer the bottleneck. The gap is between a promising demo and a system that works inside one customer’s data, tools, permissions and habits.
Forward-deployed engineers close that gap. They sit with the customer, find the workflow worth changing, build the first working version fast, and stay until it holds up in daily use. The role grew up at Palantir; AI companies now hire for it to put their models to work inside their customers.
You don’t need to be a career engineer to do this work. You need to scope the right problem, build with AI coding tools, wire in real data, and write the plan that gets it deployed.
This cohort takes you through that loop once, end to end, on a use case you choose.
From zero code to a working AI solution, and the plan that gets it deployed.
What you'll learn
Everything this certification puts in your hands.
Build without being a career engineer
Use AI coding tools to reach a working first version fast.
- Set up a build environment with Claude Code or Codex
- Turn a written spec into a running prototype
- Keep the build small enough to change every day
Wire in real data and systems
Move from sample data to the customer’s own.
- Connect the APIs, files and databases the work depends on
- Handle permissions, private data and audit needs
- Use retrieval and tools where a prompt alone falls short
Make it reliable enough to trust
Know how it fails before the customer does.
- Write evals from real cases and edge cases
- Add guardrails and human review where they matter
- Track cost, speed and quality from day one
Deploy inside the customer
Get it from your laptop into daily use.
- Choose where it runs: hosted, in their cloud, or on their machines
- Plan the rollout, the training and the fallback
- Measure adoption and the outcome you agreed
Work like a forward-deployed engineer
The part no tutorial covers: the customer.
- Run discovery sessions and live demos
- Turn feedback into the next version within days
- Write the deployment plan an executive approves
The capstone
Ship a working AI solution for a real use case—and the plan to deploy it.
Pick a workflow you know, at your company or at one you serve. By Demo Day it runs on real data and comes with a plan someone can approve.
Your proof: a working solution, the evals it passes, and a deployment plan covering data, security, rollout and how success is measured.
1Pick the workflow and agree what done means
2Build the first working version with AI tools
3Connect real data and systems
4Add evals, guardrails and cost tracking
5Write the deployment plan
6Present it at Demo Day
Curriculum
Week by week.
Dates are estimated and may change.
Week 1Scope and First BuildMarch 8–14+
- Map the workflow and the outcome
- Set up your AI build environment
- Ship a first working version
Week 2Real Data, Real SystemsMarch 15–21+
- Connect the data and tools the work needs
- Handle permissions and private data
- Use retrieval and tool calls well
Week 3ReliabilityMarch 22–28+
- Write evals from real cases
- Add guardrails and human review
- Measure cost, speed and quality
Week 4Deployment + Demo DayMarch 29–April 3+
- Plan the rollout, training and fallback
- Write the deployment plan
- Present at Demo Day
Faculty
Taught by the people doing the work.
Rohan Varma
Product Leader, Codex at OpenAI · Former FDE at Palantir
Rohan is a product leader working on Codex at OpenAI. Previously, he was the first product manager at Cursor, where he helped build one of the fastest-growing software companies in history as it grew from $0 to $1 billion in revenue in less than one year.
Earlier he was a forward-deployed engineer at Palantir, putting software to work inside customers’ own operations. He was also a Y Combinator founder who raised more than $25 million across three startups.
What's included
Everything that comes with your seat.
Live instruction
Four weeks of interactive teaching with Rohan.
Build support
Help when your build meets real data and real failures.
Capstone feedback
Review of your solution and your deployment plan.
Lifetime access
Return to the content and recordings whenever needed.
Demo Day
Present your working solution and the plan to deploy it.
Certificate
Earn Product Faculty’s Forward-Deployed AI Engineering certification.
Questions
Is everything taught live?
The Fellowship is built around live, cohort-based learning. You learn directly from the named practitioners, ask questions, complete applied work, and receive the latest insights from people working at the frontier.
Advanced Product Management is included as an on-demand program for strengthening timeless product fundamentals.
How much time will I need each week?
Most cohorts are designed for busy working professionals and require only a few hours per week. The exact commitment varies by program. You'll get the most value by attending live, completing the exercises, and making time for your capstone.
What if I miss a live session?
Attend live whenever possible because the discussions, feedback, and accountability are important parts of the experience.
However, missing an occasional session won't ruin your progress. You can also retake eligible cohorts during your active membership.
Can I retake a cohort?
Yes. You can retake eligible cohorts at no additional cost while your membership remains active. This allows you to experience the updated curriculum, refresh your knowledge, and apply what you learn to a new project as AI evolves.
Can my employer pay for it?
Yes. Many professionals use their learning and development budgets to cover the Fellowship.
We provide a manager-approval email template explaining the practical value to your company. Corporate cohort options are also available for teams. If your company needs an invoice, email support@productfaculty.com and we'll sort it.
Also in the Fellowship
Every other certification, included.
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