Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (Technical Data Architect)

Databricks
London, United Kingdom
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Aimed at senior data engineers with strong architecture and customer-facing experience who are comfortable with distributed computing and cloud ecosystems.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with deep Apache Spark expertise and a track record of leading end-to-end data architecture projects
    — “Deep experience with distributed computing with Apache Spark™ and knowledge of Spark runtime internals”
  • Professionals who have worked with enterprise clients and managed cross-functional stakeholder relationships
    — “Experience working with enterprise clients and managing conflicts across a broad stakeholder range”
  • Individuals who can translate complex technical concepts into actionable solutions for clients
    — “Experience with technical project delivery - managing scope, timelines and measurable outcomes, translating complex concepts into actionable solutions”

Things to consider

  • The role requires a 20% travel commitment, which may not align with remote-preference candidates
    — “Travel to customers 20% of the time”
  • Candidates should be prepared to work in a hybrid arrangement with in-person client immersion
    — “Location: London, United Kingdom - Hybrid”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with production-grade data pipeline and ML model integration in your resume
    — “Design and deployment of performant production end-to-end data architectures and applications that combine data pipelines, ML/AI models, and user-facing interfaces.”
  • Demonstrate your ability to bootstrap customer projects and guide them toward Databricks adoption
    — “Bootstrap or implement customer projects that lead to a customer's successful understanding, evaluation and adoption of Databricks.”
  • Showcase your cloud platform expertise, particularly in at least one of AWS, Azure, or GCP
    — “Working knowledge of two or more common Cloud ecosystems (AWS, Azure, GCP) with expertise in at least one”
  • Emphasize your skills in CI/CD and your ability to deliver projects according to specifications
    — “Familiarity with CI/CD for production deployments”
  • Demonstrate your capacity for white-boarding and documenting complex technical solutions
    — “Documentation and white-boarding skills.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Delivered production-grade systems
  • Guided strategic customers
Typical background
Experience in data engineering or software engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Data EngineeringAIApplication DevelopmentDatabricks PlatformApache SparkCI/CDMlopsCloud Ecosystems

Preferred

Customer ImmersionReusable Assets

Stack & domain

Data EngineeringData PlatformsAnalyticsSoftware EngineeringFull Stack DevelopmentPythonScalaJavaScriptTypeScriptAWSAzureGCPApache SparkCI/CDMlopsMl/ai ModelsAI ApisData ArchitecturesApplication DevelopmentAdaptabilityCuriosityCustomer EmpathyTeamworkCloud ComputingBig DataAIData Science

About the role

Original posting from Databricks

Req ID: CSQ128R28

Location: London, United Kingdom - Hybrid 

Job Role: Senior Forward Deployed Engineer - Technical Architect level

Recruiter: Dina Hussain

We’re hiring for multiple roles within our FDE team. 

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. We work cross-functionally to shape long-term strategic priorities and initiatives alongside engineering, product, and developer relations. FDEs deliver with customer empathy, integrating with client systems, training, and other technical needs to help customers get the most value out of their data. 

This is a hands-on, customer-facing role 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 specifications with exceptional customer empathy.

The impact you will have:

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 work with input from the customer

Empower Customers: Guide customers on architecture and design; bootstrap or implement customer projects that lead to a customer's 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.

Work with the Databricks technical team, Project Manager, Architect and Customer team to ensure the technical components of the engagement are delivered to meet customers' needs.

Work with Engineering and Databricks Customer Support to provide product and implementation feedback and to guide rapid resolution for engagement-specific product and support issues.

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.

What we look for:

Experience in data engineering, data platforms & analytics, or software engineering / full stack development

Comfortable writing code in either 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 with 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, translating complex concepts into actionable solutions.

Documentation and white-boarding 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 which support the deployment and integration of Databricks-based solutions to complete customer projects.

Travel to customers 20% of the time

Databricks Certification - an advantage

About Databricks

Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 20,000 organizations worldwide — including adidas, AT&T, Bayer, Block, Mastercard, Rivian, Unilever, and 70% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data + AI Platform to build and scale data and AI apps, analytics and agents. Headquartered in San Francisco with 30+ offices around the globe, Databricks offers a unified platform that includes Genie, Lakebase, Agent Bricks, Lakeflow, Lakehouse, and Unity Catalog. To learn more, follow Databricks on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

Benefits

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

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Compliance

If access to export-controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.

Source: Databricks careers

Similar roles