Forward Deployed Software Engineer (FDE)

Overview:

At Zebra we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customers and partners needs and solve their challenges.

Being part of Zebra Nation means you are seen heard valued and respected. Drawing from our unique perspectives we collaborate to deliver on our purpose. Here you are part of a team pushing boundaries today to redefine the work of tomorrow for organizations their employees and those they serve.

Youll have opportunities to learn and lead in a forward-thinking environment defining your path to a fulfilling career while channeling your skills toward causes you care aboutlocally and globally.

Come make an impact every day at Zebra.

What Were Looking For:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establishes requirements for moderately complex software design projects
• Prioritizes features to ensure the most impactful are implemented first
• Leads and participates in code reviews proactively identifying and addressing issues early in the development process
• Completes all phases of moderately complex software design and development projects including in process and final inspections to meet quality standards
• Develops and tests comprehensive documentation to support software projects including design specifications code comments and user manuals
• Explores and applies the latest technologies and innovative approaches to enhance software designs and implementations
• Reviews and refines existing software or firmware designs identifying opportunities for optimization and improvement
• Provides recommendations and solutions to technical problems leveraging expertise across multiple technical domains
• May develop custom tools or scripts to streamline analysis debugging or problem solving processes
• Exercises sound judgment in selecting methods and techniques to deliver effective solutions to complex problems
• Works with minimal supervision receiving general guidance on new assignments and strategic objectives
• Provides mentorship and guidance to junior level personnel including both exempt and non-exempt team members
• Builds strong professional networks with senior internal and external stakeholders frequently engaging in inter-organizational and customer-focused discussions

Forward Deployment Responsibilities:

• Enterprise Pilot Strategy & Deployment:
  Lead the hands-on deployment technical development and validation of Zebras Android and cloud-based solutions during high-stakes customer pilots. Conduct technical workshops customize and guide the seamless roll-out of devices and software into live mission-critical operations.
• Customer Workflow Optimization & Architecture Review:
  Act as a key technical consultant by reviewing real-world customer workflows system use cases and deployment environments. Analyze the customers end-to-end software architecture to identify integration bottlenecks and ensure Zebra solutions fit seamlessly within their ecosystem.
• Hands-on Design Code & Troubleshooting:
  Develop diagnose debug and troubleshoot complex software and device-level issues directly in the field. Actively review design and write high-quality code (spanning local Android to backend cloud integrations) to rapidly deploy stable scalable solutions.
• Android & Cloud Solution Integration:
  Bridge the requirements gap in device-side Android applications and cloud solutions. Ensure secure connectivity robust API integrations and smooth data exchange between Zebra mobile devices cloud backends and existing third-party enterprise databases.
• AI-Assisted Efficiency:
  Incorporate modern Zebra-approved AI coding tools (such as Claude Code) to accelerate troubleshooting write efficient code and optimize application performance.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree or Advanced Degree in Computer Science Software Engineering or a related engineering discipline
• Minimum 5 years of relevant software engineering experience. 3 years of experience with an Advanced Degree
• Professional software engineering experience specializing in full-stack cloud solutions required.
• A demonstrated ability to proactively take initiative in diagnosing bugs and writing real-time code to resolve complex challenges required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree preferred
• Communication:Proven ability to articulate technical concepts and use cases clearly to both engineering teams and non-technical customer stakeholders.
• AI Adaptation:A forward-thinking mindset with an enthusiasm for leveraging AI-assisted development tools to optimize coding speed and output quality.

Technology Skills

• Backend:Java Spring Boot Hibernate
• Frontend:JavaScript (ReactJS)
• Cloud & Tools:Google Cloud (GCP) Docker Kubernetes CI/CD Microservices
• Databases:MySQL PostgreSQL Firebase
• AI Tools:GitHub Copilot Cursor or Claude Code
• Preferred:Android Development (Android SDK Kotlin/Java)

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Proficient in multiple programming languages and software development frameworks
• Strong understanding of software architecture design patterns system-level programming and adopting GenAI in Software Development Lifecycle
• Experience with software testing strategies debugging tools and performance optimization techniques Ability to evaluate and integrate new technologies into existing software solutions
• Strong problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges
• Proficiency with version control systems (e.g. Git GitHub) and familiarity with CI/CD pipelines
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to mentor and influence junior team members
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and engaging with external customers or stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while effectively managing multiple priorities
• Backend:Java Spring Boot (Express/NestJS)
• Frontend:JavaScript TypeScript ReactJS
• Cloud & Tools:Multi-Cloud (GCP AWS or Azure) Docker Kubernetes CI/CD pipelines Microservices architecture
• Databases:Relational (MySQL/PostgreSQL) NoSQL (MongoDB) Data Warehousing (BigQuery)
• AI Assisted Development:GitHub Copilot Cursor Claude Code or equivalent AI coding assistants
• Advanced Android Development (Android SDK Kotlin/Java)

Travel Requirements: Up to 25%

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Zebra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability and protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law. If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance in applying for a position please contact us at

Know Your Rights:

sus Derechos:

will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process to perform essential job functions and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation at .

Pay Range:

Incentive Compensation:

Zebra Total Rewards:

Zebra Total Rewards includes more than just pay and is structured to meet the needs of our changing global business and evolving talent. We are committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is comprehensive and competitive including healthcare wellness inclusion networks and continued learning and development offerings. We offer community service days in addition to the traditional insurances compensation parental leave employee assistance program and paid time off offerings depending on the country where you work.

Salary offered will vary depending on your location job-related skills knowledge and experience.

Additionally all Zebra roles are eligible for cash incentive programs. For example sales roles have additional opportunity to earn substantial variable compensation tied to quota most other roles the Zebra annual cash incentive program links Company and individual performance together. Some roles may also be eligible for long-term incentive equity awards.

Benefits:

We understand the importance of work-life balance and wellbeing which is why we offer flexibility for our teams including: hybrid work adaptable hours Summer Flex Fridays Focus Fridays and an annual companywide well-being day to promote revitalization and success.

Job Posting Statement:

To protect candidates from falling victim to online fraudulent activity involving fake job postings and employment offers please be aware our recruiters will always connect with you via @ email accounts. Applications are only accepted through our applicant tracking system and only accept personal identifying information through that system. Our Talent Acquisition team will not ask for you to provide personal identifying information via e-mail or outside of the system. If you are a victim of identity theft contact your local police department.

AI Technology Statement:

Zebra Technologies leverages AI technology to evaluate job applications using objective job-relevant criteria. This approach enhances efficiency and promotes fairness in the hiring process. However every decision regarding interviews and hiring is made by our dedicated team because we believe people make the best decisions about people. For more on how we use technology in hiring and how we process applicant data see our Zebra Privacy Policy.