wtf is an FDE? (and other questions job seekers are asking themselves rn)
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As we get closer to graduation season and recruiting ramps up, we’ve been scrolling through what feels like 17,000 job boards (more on why LinkedIn is not it anymore here) and noticing a lot. More IC roles than manager roles. Fewer traditional titles. And a whole lot of new lingo that makes you feel like you missed a memo.
FDE. Field Deployed Engineer. GTM Strategist. Revenue Architect. Solutions Engineer. AI Evangelist. If you’re staring at these job descriptions wondering if you’re even qualified to apply… we need to talk.
Here’s what’s actually happening.
The line between sales and engineering is dissolving. The person closing the deal now needs to understand the product well enough to demo it, implement it, troubleshoot it. And the engineer? Needs to get in a room with a customer and sell. These hybrid roles are exploding right now and they pay incredibly well. “Field Deployed Engineer” is not a coding job. Read the description. It’s 60% relationship-building, 40% product knowledge. That’s a job a lot of us could walk into tomorrow.
Technical skills are still valuable, obviously, but they’re increasingly table stakes. AI has made it so that anyone with a good prompt and an afternoon can build a working prototype, write code, or spin up a product demo. The thing companies are actually struggling to hire for is the stuff AI can’t do: reading a room, building trust, moving someone toward a decision. Listening. Persuasion. EQ.
Soft skills are suddenly the hottest skill set on the market. And if you are a woman who has spent her career being told she’s “too emotional” or “too relationship-focused” congratulations, you were just ahead of the curve.
Here’s the part that’s a little annoying though.
Marketing is getting a rebrand. Not the function the name. GTM. Revenue Operations. Growth. The jobs and skills are the same. The difference is that now that soft skills command the highest salaries, the people who historically overlooked these roles are flooding in and renaming them so it doesn’t sound like a “girly” job. A field that women have dominated forever, that requires exactly the skills women are exceptionally good at, is now suddenly very prestigious.
We see it. And we’re not going to let it slow us down.
Because the opportunity here is genuinely massive, but only if we actually apply. Don’t filter yourself out of an “FDE” role because it sounds like it requires a CS degree. Don’t skip “Solutions Engineer” because you think it’s a technical interview. Read the job description. If it’s looking for someone who can build relationships, demo a product, and close a deal; that might be you.
One more thing on the AI piece specifically.
If you’re a PM who can’t spin up a rough prototype, you’re already behind. And if you’re in any role — marketing, ops, strategy, you name it — and you haven’t started actually using AI tools, this is the moment. The person who does what you do AND can build something in an afternoon is going to get hired over you. That’s just the reality right now.
“AI fluency” and “rapid prototyping” need to be on your résumé. If they’re not, you’re probably getting filtered out for half of the high upside jobs you’re applying to (probably by an LLM btw).
And if you haven’t started playing with the tools yet, start today. Not to become an AI expert. Just to not be a stranger to it. Our friend Claudia is a great place to start 😉
The actual tactical stuff:
— Read the job description before you decide you’re not qualified. “Field Strategist” is sales. “Solutions Engineer” is sales with a demo. The title is not the job.
— Add AI fluency and vibe coding to your résumé if you’ve done it even once. You’d be surprised how many people haven’t and how much it stands out.
— Interviews have changed. Companies want to see how you think in real time, not hear polished stories about what you did at your last job. Come ready to engage with their actual problems. Do the prep. Go deep.
— Build something with AI before your next interview. Anything. A mock dashboard, a rough prototype, a content calendar generated in 10 minutes. It signals that you figure things out — which is honestly the most attractive trait in this market.
The market is genuinely weird right now. But for women who lead with soft skills, who know how to listen and influence and build trust — this might actually be the best moment we’ve had. We just have to stop self-selecting out before anyone else even gets the chance to.
-Isa and Anna ⊹
⊹ CIRCE DEALFLOW
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Raising: Pre-Seed
Founded by Sarah Waimon, Looey was built after she got splashed in the face with biohazardous waste at work. Her response? Build a company.
Sarah asked the question every nurse innovator eventually asks — why doesn't something exist to fix this? The answer is Looey, a transparent shield that attaches to standard bedpan washing hardware and stops biohazardous splash-back before it reaches caregivers. Reusable. Hospital-grade. Designed by someone who actually does the job.
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Raising: Pre-Seed
Whether you're walking your dog or hiking a trail, LymeAlert addresses the massive problem of Lyme disease. The most common vector-borne disease in the US and Europe, Lyme is notoriously difficult to diagnose, symptoms can take weeks to manifest, and delayed treatment can lead to chronic, long-term issues. LymeAlert detects Lyme at the earliest possible point of exposure. The kit works in three simple steps: remove the tick, test it, and read the results. no lab required. With an on-the-go test that puts answers in your hands immediately, you can make informed decisions about treatment before symptoms ever appear.
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⊹ CIRCE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Olivia is the founder of Olivia's Tanghulu, bringing one of China's most iconic street snacks — sugar-glazed candied fruit — into the American mainstream as a premium dessert experience. What started as a beloved tradition is now showing up on corporate campuses, university events, and pop-ups across the Bay Area. Olivia spent years as a scientist, earning her PhD and directing R&D at Impossible Foods, before pivoting into entrepreneurship and completing her MBA at Berkeley Haas. She now mentors and judges startups at the Cleantech Open. She's actively looking to connect with suppliers, boba shop and café owners interested in adding her product, and event planners looking to bring something truly unique to their next experience.
⟡ EVENTS
MNT Pilates with Female Founders | MAY 19
Circe and Slash are taking over MNTSTUDIO's Marina studio for a private Pilates class, followed by wine, charcuterie, and easy conversation upstairs
Dinner Party for Women in AI + DeepTech | MAY 26
Join 20 of the most compelling women building in AI and deep tech: space is limited!
Al Dente: Founder-Investor pasta-making | JUN 24
Investors: Come make pasta from the creators of Flour+Water, and bring your favorite female founder with you.
See our entire Calendar of events here!
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Anna Gurney
Circe, Berkeley MBA/MPH, Chief of Staff @ Aura Finance
Topics: Early stage investing, Women’s Health, HealthTech, VC ecosystem, and building founder networks.
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Isa D’Elia
Circe, Berkeley MBA, Bizdev and GTM @ Kenley (YC ‘24)
Topics: Applied AI, HR Tech, 0→1 product strategy, and building systems that help teams move faster.
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