Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering

CSQ128R182

Databricks is redefining what organisations can achieve with data and AI. As the unified platform powering the world's most ambitious data-driven enterprises, we sit at the intersection of cloud migrations, AI transformation, and real-time intelligence and our customers challenge us every day to go further.

As Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering, you will lead a high-performing team of Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) at the forefront of this transformation. Partnering with Databricks' most strategic enterprise customers, you will shape how leading organisations migrate to the lakehouse, build next-generation AI and GenAI systems, and unlock sustained business value from their data investments.

As a people leader, you will build and scale a team that represents Databricks' highest standard of technical excellence and customer impact. Your team will partner with enterprises across industries to architect and deliver mission-critical solutions, from large-scale data migrations and legacy modernisation programs to cutting-edge generative AI, MLOps, and AI agent deployments. You will set the bar for delivery quality, grow world-class talent, and drive the strategic governance framework that ensures every engagement is executed with precision and measurable impact.

The impact you will have:

• Oversee regional performance targets, including billable utilisation, team growth, and hiring, while championing delivery excellence and customer success across the FDE portfolio.
• Partner with Account Executives, Engagement Managers, and Field Engineering leaders to position, scope, and deliver transformational Professional Services (PS) programs spanning data migrations, AI/ML platforms, and advanced analytics.
• Establish best practices for project oversight, risk management, and quality standards that scale with a growing FDE practice, ensuring projects are delivered on time and to specification.
• Synthesise field insights from your team’s engagements to provide direct feedback to Engineering and Product management, helping to guide the Databricks roadmap while driving the creation of reusable customer accelerators and frameworks.
• Serve as the critical escalation point for high-stakes customer situations, leveraging deep technical credibility and leadership judgment to protect strategic relationships and drive rapid resolution.
• Mentor Forward Deployed Engineers through structured career pathways, technical coaching, and a culture of innovation, mastery, and continuous growth.

What we look for:

• Key requirements

  • 4+ years leading high-performing technical delivery teams, with a proven track record building excellence-driven cultures
  • 5+ years as a technical solutions architect or data/AI engineer, providing coaching credibility
  • Familiarity with Databricks, Apache Spark™, MLflow, Delta Lake, or the modern data and AI ecosystem
  • Consulting / professional services background with a hands-on technical foundation
  • Proven technical depth to personally build with AI, coach teams with best practices, drive organisation-wide adoption
  • Demonstrated success leading large-scale data platform migrations and AI/ML programs in enterprise environments
  • Strong understanding of technical project delivery, including scope, timelines, and SOW management
  • Strong stakeholder management skills navigating complex, high-stakes customer environments
  • Ability to travel to customer sites approximately 20% of the time

  Nice-to-Haves

  • Prior experience at a hyperscaler (Google, AWS, Azure) or a top data/AI company
  • An in-house/industry stint alongside vendor-side delivery experience