Sr. Forward Deployed Engineer

About the role

As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you will work with customers to build and productionize solutions to their data & AI challenges using the Databricks platform. You will own the architecture, lead design decisions, and implement end-to-end systems spanning data engineering, AI, and application development. This hands-on, customer-facing role is ideal for builders who thrive at the intersection of technology and business impact.

The ideal candidate combines engineering expertise with adaptability, curiosity, and a passion for working with customers and teammates to solve complex problems that drive measurable outcomes. FDEs are billable and know how to complete projects according to specification with exceptional customer empathy.

Responsibilities

• Production Solution Delivery: Lead impactful customer technical projects by delivering production-grade systems, designing and building reference architectures, custom applications, and data ingestion and ML/AI model integration.
• Transformational Impact: Guide strategic customers as they implement transformational big data projects, including end-to-end design, build, and deployment of industry-leading big data and AI applications. Work with engagement managers to scope technical delivery with customer input.
• Empower Customers: Guide customers on architecture and design; bootstrap or implement customer projects to ensure successful understanding, evaluation, and adoption of Databricks.
• Own the Architecture: Lead architecture and design decisions, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, and aligned with both customer needs and Databricks best practices. Collaborate with the Databricks technical team, Project Manager, Architect, and Customer team to meet technical requirements.
• Customer Immersion: Embed with customer teams, engaging with stakeholders from technical ICs to executives to deeply understand challenges and deliver impact.
• Reusable Assets & Scale: Contribute accelerators, frameworks, and best practices that scale impact across accounts and influence the Databricks product roadmap.
• Work with Engineering and Databricks Customer Support to provide product and implementation feedback and guide rapid resolution for engagement-specific product and support issues.
• Travel to customers 20% of the time.

Requirements

• 6+ years of experience in data engineering, data platforms & analytics, or software engineering.
• Comfortable writing code in Python, Scala, JavaScript/TypeScript, and modern frameworks.
• Working knowledge of two or more common Cloud ecosystems (AWS, Azure, GCP) with expertise in at least one.
• Deep experience with distributed computing using Apache Spark™ and knowledge of Spark runtime internals.
• Familiarity with CI/CD for production deployments.
• Working knowledge of MLOps, ML/AI models, and AI APIs.
• Design and deployment of performant production end-to-end data architectures and applications that combine data pipelines, ML/AI models, and user-facing interfaces.
• Experience with technical project delivery—managing scope, timelines, and measurable outcomes, and translating complex concepts into actionable solutions.
• Strong documentation and whiteboarding skills.
• Experience working with enterprise clients and managing conflicts across a broad stakeholder range.
• Build skills in technical areas and demonstrate curiosity, adaptability, and eagerness to explore new technologies supporting Databricks-based solutions.
• Databricks Certification (preferred).

Pay

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role are listed below and represent the expected base salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors unique to each candidate, including job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications, and specific work location.

• Zone 1 Pay Range: $182,000—$250,208 USD
• Zone 2 Pay Range: $182,000—$250,208 USD
• Zone 3 Pay Range: $182,000—$250,208 USD
• Zone 4 Pay Range: $182,000—$250,208 USD

For more information regarding which range your location is in, visit Databricks' pay range page.

Benefits

At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region, click here.