About this role
The Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) at Databricks is a hands-on, customer-facing role responsible for building and productionizing data and AI solutions on the Databricks platform. You will own the architecture, lead design decisions, and implement end-to-end systems that integrate data engineering, AI models, and application development. This role requires working cross-functionally with engineering, product, and developer relations to drive strategic customer outcomes. Responsibilities include: delivering production-grade systems and reference architectures; guiding customers through transformational big data and AI projects; bootstrapping customer projects to facilitate platform adoption; ensuring solutions are secure and scalable; and contributing to reusable assets and frameworks that influence the product roadmap. You will also provide product feedback to internal engineering teams and manage technical delivery across diverse stakeholder groups. Requirements: 6+ years of experience in data engineering, AI, and data platforms; expertise in designing performant, end-to-end production architectures; working knowledge of MLOps, AI models, and AI APIs; proficiency in Python, Scala, or JavaScript/TypeScript; deep experience with Apache Spark and distributed computing; and familiarity with CI/CD pipelines. Candidates must have experience managing technical projects with enterprise clients and possess strong documentation and white-boarding skills. The role involves approximately 20% travel to customer sites. Databricks is a global Data and AI company providing a unified platform for building and scaling data and AI applications.