Study estimates only 2,000 U.S. engineers can deliver meaningful AI ROI as enterprises scramble for ‘forward-deployed engineers’

Executive search firm Christian & Timbers estimates that only about 2,000 U.S. engineers possess the sector-specific expertise, gravitas, and hands-on applied AI experience needed to consistently help enterprises achieve meaningful returns on AI spending. The study, shared exclusively with TechCrunch, clarifies that this figure represents the total pool, not the number currently available for hire.

Demand for forward-deployed engineers (FDEs)—engineers embedded within client organizations to build, implement, and deploy AI models—is projected to surge by 2,100% by the end of 2026, according to the same research. The findings are based on interviews with more than 250 C-suite executives across 180 companies, a survey of 80 Fortune 500 executives, and conversations with over 300 FDEs and applied AI engineers conducted between January and June 2026.

At the start of 2026, only 5% to 10% of companies planned to hire FDEs, primarily for small pilots. By the end of the second quarter, 70% of companies reported plans to hire, with large consulting and services firms aiming to increase FDE headcount tenfold, building teams of 20 to 100 employees.

The total pool of U.S. FDEs is estimated at roughly 17,000, though only a fraction are considered elite enough to deliver ‘multiple tens of millions of dollars of ROI impact,’ which may include revenue acceleration or replacing large-scale document processing workflows.

Major AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic have launched dedicated ventures—OpenAI’s Deployment Company and Ode with Anthropic—staffed with FDEs to embed their technologies within enterprises. Meanwhile, enterprises across insurance, fintech, healthcare, and gaming are building internal FDE teams to retain control over proprietary processes and mitigate competitive risks posed by AI vendors.