Disciplines11 in one squad
In shortUpdated 30 Oct 2026 · Labs 24 FDE Squad
Forward deployed engineering at Labs 24, in short
Forward deployed engineering is a way of building software where engineers embed inside the client's operation, work beside the people who do the job, and put working systems into production on the client's own data and infrastructure. A Labs 24 FDE squad draws on eleven engineering disciplines and is shaped around the problem, so each project gets the skills it needs and no more.
- AI engineering
- Agents, LLMs, data and retrieval, evals, production and cloud, integration, enterprise rollout
- Core engineering
- Backend services and the software people use: web, mobile, review screens, APIs
- Across every build
- Architecture and security and compliance, applied to every project
- How we work
- Embedded with your team, starting by shadowing the work, with a demo every Friday
- Ownership
- Code in your repository, systems on your infrastructure, full IP transfer
- Where
- Based in Chennai, deploying worldwide
01 / The disciplines
The eleven disciplines in a Labs 24 FDE squad.
Seven AI disciplines, two core engineering disciplines, and two that apply to every build. Each has its own page with capabilities, methods and FAQs.
AI engineering
01
Agent Engineering
AI agents that do real work, with approvals and guardrails.
02LLM Engineering
Choosing, prompting, routing and tuning models for cost and quality.
03Data & Retrieval
Answers from your documents and data, cited and permission-aware.
04Evals & AI Reliability
Test suites and release gates, so quality is measured, not hoped for.
05Production & Cloud
Deployment in your cloud or on-prem, including private LLMs.
06Integration
AI connected to ERP, CRM, email, WhatsApp and legacy systems.
07Enterprise Solutions
From one working pilot to a company-wide standard.
Core engineering
02 / Build your squad
Which disciplines does your problem need?
No two squads look the same. Pick the problem closest to yours to see who leads, who supports, and what you end up with.
AgentLLMData & RetrievalEvalsProduction & CloudIntegrationEnterpriseBackendSoftwareArchitectureSecurity
LeadsSupportsOn call
Led by
Agent Engineering
With
Integration to read and write your systems, Evals to prove it is right, Backend to run it reliably.
You end up with
An agent doing the routine cases, with people approving the rest.
Led by
Data & Retrieval
With
LLM Engineering for the answering model, Evals to score answers on real questions, Security for who may see what.
You end up with
Cited answers your team trusts, respecting document permissions.
Led by
Software Engineering
With
LLM Engineering for model choice and cost, Backend for streaming and fallbacks, Evals to guard each release.
You end up with
An AI feature your customers use, shipped with tests and monitoring.
Led by
Production & Cloud
With
LLM Engineering to pick open-weight models, Security for the controls, Architecture to keep it swappable.
You end up with
Private AI on your own hardware or cloud, with no data leaving your network.
Led by
Evals & AI Reliability
With
Architecture to find what is structurally wrong, Software for the missing product pieces, LLM Engineering for model fixes.
You end up with
A clear diagnosis, then the pilot fixed and in front of real users.
Led by
Enterprise Solutions
With
Architecture for shared standards, Security for approvals and evidence, Integration for reusable connectors.
You end up with
A repeatable way for every team to launch AI safely.
03 / FDE vs the rest
Forward deployed engineers vs agencies, consultancies and hiring.
Each option has its place. The difference with an FDE squad is where the work happens and what is left when it ends.
| Labs 24 FDE squad | AI agency | Consultancy | Hiring in-house | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where the work happens | Inside your team, beside the users | Their office, through tickets | Workshops and meetings | Inside your team |
| What you get | AI running in production | A build to a written spec | Strategy and a roadmap | Depends on who you find |
| Range of skills | Eleven disciplines on call | Mostly app development | Strategy, some build | One or two specialists |
| Code and IP | Yours, in your repo | Sometimes licensed back | Little code produced | Yours |
| How it starts | Shadowing the work | A scoping document | Discovery workshops | Recruiting |
04 / How a squad works
Embed, shape, ship, hand over.
The same rhythm for every squad, whatever the disciplines inside it. Working software every Friday, not slides.
One squad, inside your teamStep 01 · Embed
Shadow the work
Engineers sit with the people who do the job and map where AI helps, where it doesn't, and what success looks like.
- Work mapped
- Baseline measured
- Success agreed
Step 02 · Shape
Shape the squad
The lead discipline is set by the problem; supporting disciplines join as the design needs them.
- Squad and lead
- Target design
- Build or buy calls
Step 03 · Ship
One slice in production
The smallest useful version goes live on real work, measured against the baseline, then widened.
- Live on real work
- Friday demos
- Evals in place
Step 04 · Hand over
Yours to run
Code, docs, runbooks and training handed to your team, with the option to keep the squad on for the next problem.
- Full IP transfer
- Runbooks and docs
- Team trained
05 / FAQ
Forward deployed engineering FAQ.
What is forward deployed engineering?
Forward deployed engineering is a way of building software where engineers embed inside the client's operation, work beside the people who do the job, and put working systems into production on the client's own data and infrastructure. The approach was popularised by Palantir and is now widely used for enterprise AI.
What is a forward deployed engineer?
A forward deployed engineer, or FDE, is a software engineer who works on site or embedded with a client team rather than from a distant product team. FDEs combine engineering depth with an understanding of the client's work, and their job is to get a system running in production, not to write a report.
What is an FDE squad?
An FDE squad is a small team of forward deployed engineers drawn from different disciplines, such as agents, data, evals, integration and security, and shaped around one client problem. One discipline leads, others support, and the mix changes as the work changes.
How is an FDE different from a consultant or an AI agency?
A consultant mostly advises and an agency mostly builds to a written spec from outside. A forward deployed engineer builds inside your team, learns the work first hand, ships to production and hands over code you own.
Which disciplines are in a Labs 24 FDE squad?
Eleven: Agent Engineering, LLM Engineering, Data & Retrieval, Evals & AI Reliability, Production & Cloud, Integration, Enterprise Solution Engineering, Backend Engineering, Software Engineering, Architecture, and Security & Compliance.
How is a squad put together for a project?
Labs 24 starts by shadowing the work, then picks the lead discipline that fits the problem and adds supporting disciplines as the design needs them. A back-office automation is usually led by Agent Engineering; a private-AI project by Production & Cloud.
Who owns the code and the systems?
The client. Code lives in the client's repository, systems run on the client's infrastructure, and Labs 24 transfers full IP along with documentation and runbooks.
Does Labs 24 work outside India?
Yes. Labs 24 is based in Chennai and deploys forward deployed engineers worldwide, working on site or embedded remotely with the client's team.
What are the steps in working with an FDE squad?
Labs 24 embeds and shadows the work, shapes the squad and the target design, ships one slice into production on real work and widens it, then hands over code, documentation and training to your team.