FDE Training Roadmap
Internal training program · about 18 weeks

FDE Training Roadmap

A path for turning backend, frontend and QE engineers into forward deployed engineers: people who can sit with a customer, build in their environment, and bring the pattern back to the product.

Starting role
Overall progress0 of 0 · 0%

Skill gaps

Rate yourself on five areas. Every role starts with about half of the FDE skill set, and the missing half differs. Click a level to set where you are today.

1 Aware2 Working3 Independent (target)4 Teaches others Dashed outline: where this role starts

The program

Four phases that overlap, then a capstone. Tasks tagged with a role apply only to that role. Each phase ends with an exit check that a mentor signs off.

What derails the program

Treating it as a title changeThe role is different. Adjust expectations, compensation and career ladders with it.
Skipping selectionNot everyone wants customer-facing work. Make it opt-in and look for curiosity and tolerance for ambiguity.
No product feedback loopWithout Phase 4 you have built a services team, not an FDE team.
Loading trainees too earlyKeep trainees off critical accounts until Phase 3, and keep an escalation path open.