Functional Forward Deployed Engineer

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Role: Functional Forward Deployed Engineer (Manufacturing Value Chain)

Job Type: Permanent

Number of hours: 40 hours per week – full time

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity in Value chain?

We have an exciting role for you – Functional Forward Deployed Engineer (Manufacturing Value Chain)

Careers at TCS: It means more

TCS is a purpose-led transformation company, built on belief. We do not just help businesses to transform through technology. We support them in making a meaningful difference to the people and communities they serve - our clients include some of the biggest brands in the UK and worldwide. For you, it means more to make an impact that matters, through challenging projects which demand ambitious innovation and thought leadership.

• Bring in your GCP Cloud Infra and Engineering skills to curate and engineer Cloud Resources and make their Cloud Adoption journey seamless.
• Identify areas of improvement and innovation harnessing your Google Cloud competencies to make services more Secure, reliant, self-serve and autonomous.

The Role

We're looking to recruit an Functional Forward Deployed Engineer (Manufacturing Value Chain) to act as the crucial bridge between traditional manufacturing business operations and cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Applying a first-principles approach , your core objective is to deconstruct complex business processes down to their fundamental constraints (bottlenecks in time, cost, quality, decision‑making) and solve them using applied AI. You will act as a key leader in our consulting organization, identifying, defining, and shaping AI interventions across the end-to-end manufacturing value chain—from New Product Introduction (NPI) to After‑Sales.

Your Profile

Your responsibilities

1. Value Chain Analysis & First-Principle Deconstruction

• Enterprise Process Mapping: Map interconnected value chains—spanning R&D/NPI, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, and After‑Sales to identify fundamental systemic inefficiencies.
• Constraint Breakdown: Use a first‑principles approach to isolate the root cause of business constraints and determine if they are mathematically solvable using data and AI.
• Cross‑Functional AI Ideation: Proactively identify high‑value AI opportunities across the lifecycle (e.g., generative design in NPI, dynamic inventory in Supply Chain, yield optimization in Manufacturing, predictive lead scoring in Sales, or intelligent warranty analytics in After‑Sales).
• Feasibility Assessment: Evaluate the technical feasibility and business viability of proposed AI interventions in the context of the client’s existing enterprise architecture.

2. Client Engagement & Solution Shaping

• Stakeholder Management: Act as the primary functional advisor to executive client stakeholders across departments (e.g., VP of Supply Chain, Plant Managers, CMOs, Head of R&D).
• Business Case Architecture: Define the ROI, cost savings, and operational impact of AI initiatives to secure stakeholder buy‑in, ensuring solutions target fundamental business value.
• Workshop Facilitation: Lead discovery workshops and design thinking sessions to translate ambiguous, enterprise‑wide business challenges into structured AI project requirements.

3. Functional Solution Design

• Requirements Translation: Translate functional business requirements into precise specifications, constraints, and objectives for AI/ML engineering and data science teams.
• AI‑Led Value Stream Redesign: Redesign value streams by identifying where AI can simplify workflows, improve decisions, and remove operational inefficiencies or AI‑led changes materially improve the way work is performed
• KPI Definition: Define the success metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) that will measure the financial and operational impact of deployed AI models.

4. Delivery & Implementation Orchestration

• Cross‑Functional Leadership: Partner tightly with Data Scientists, Software Engineers, and Data Architects to ensure the delivered mathematical solution aligns with the physical and commercial realities of the business.
• Change Management & Trust Building: Drive user adoption across diverse teams (from shop floor operators to regional sales directors), ensuring AI outputs are trusted and seamlessly integrated into daily decision‑making.

Essential skills/knowledge/experience

• Deep functional expertise in at least one or two core pillars of the manufacturing lifecycle (e.g., NPI, Supply Chain, Factory Operations, Commercial, or After‑Sales).
• Industry knowledge across one or more sectors, such as automotive, aerospace and defense, industrial machinery, or process and chemical manufacturing.
• Systems‑Thinking Mindset: Ability to understand the flow of the broader enterprise (e.g., how a supply chain delay impacts manufacturing schedules, or how sales forecasts drive procurement).
• Familiarity with the enterprise technology stack relevant to your area (e.g., ERP, PLM, MES, SCADA, or CRM systems).
• Strong conceptual understanding of AI/ML capabilities (e.g., predictive modeling, optimization, computer vision, generative AI) and knowing where to apply them, without needing to write code.
• Ability to interpret data models, dashboards, and analytical outputs to drive business decisions.
• Familiarity with data governance, data readiness assessments, and cloud‑based analytics platforms.
• Exceptional problem‑solving skills and the ability to navigate ambiguity in complex, matrixed enterprise environments.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills, capable of explaining technical AI concepts to non‑technical operational leaders.
• Proven track record in consulting, digital transformation, or serving as an internal change agent within a product‑centric organization.

Experience

• Strong experience in manufacturing operations, supply chain, commercial strategy, or relevant industrial IT consulting.
• Good experience working on digital transformation, Industry 4.0, advanced analytics, or AI deployment projects.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM) and how they intersect with digital tools.

TCS is consistently voted a Top Employer in the UK and globally. Our competitive salary packages feature pension, health care, life assurance, laptop, phone, access to extensive training resources and discounts within the larger Tata network.

We offer health & wellness initiatives and sports events; we are the proud sponsor of the London Marathon.

Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing

Tata Consultancy Services UK&I is committed to meeting the accessibility needs of all individuals in accordance with the UK Equality Act 2010 and the UK Human Rights Act 1998.

We welcome and embrace diversity in race, nationality, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, gender identity, age, physical ability, gender reassignment, sexual orientation. We are a disability inclusive employer and encourage disabled people to apply for this role.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer an interview to applicants with disabilities or long-term conditions who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Please email us at if you would like to opt in.

If you are an applicant who needs any adjustments to the application process or interview, please contact us at with the subject line: “Adjustment Request” or call TCS London Office / to request an adjustment. We welcome requests prior to you completing the application and at any stage of the recruitment process.

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