InternshipKey terms and common mistakes
The words you will hear in Forward Deployed Engineering work and the mistakes that most often cost interns approvals.
Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Forward deployed engineer | An engineer who works directly with a customer to make the product succeed for them |
| Discovery | Finding the customer's real problem before building |
| Integration | Connecting the product to the customer's systems |
| Proof of concept (POC) | A small build that proves a solution works |
| Scope | What is in and out of a piece of work |
| Stakeholder | Anyone affected by or deciding on the work |
| Runbook | Step-by-step notes for operating or fixing a system |
| Handover | Passing a working solution to the customer's team |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Building before understanding the customer's real problem.
- Making promises outside the agreed scope.
- No documentation at handover.
- Not sharing what you learn with the product team.
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