Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

How Palantir built the ultimate founder factory | Nabeel S. Qureshi (founder, writer, ex-Palantir)

1245 snips
May 11, 2025
Nabeel S. Qureshi, an entrepreneur and former Palantir engineer, shares insights on building exceptional product leaders. He reveals why a third of Palantir's PMs go on to start their own companies and discusses their unique hiring practices emphasizing intellectual curiosity. Nabeel explains the impact of forward-deployed engineers, who provide tailored solutions, and how Palantir transitioned to a software powerhouse. He also delves into the moral implications of tech in defense and the evolving value of college education in tech.
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PMs Must Be Forward-Deployed Engineers

  • Palantir only makes people PMs if they first prove themselves as forward-deployed engineers.
  • This unique path ensures PMs deeply understand customers and product needs hands-on.
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Palantir's Unique Talent Criteria

  • Palantir's hiring focuses on independence, broad intellect, and intense competitiveness.
  • This draws strong, mission-aligned people willing to push boundaries.
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Forward Deployed Engineer Role

  • Forward deployed engineers (FDEs) work on-site at customers, deeply embedding with their teams.
  • They rapidly build solutions, iterating multiple times weekly, gaining trust and understanding.
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