Senior Manager, AI Forward Deployed Engineering - London

Vibehackers; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Databricks in London seeks a Senior Manager for AI Forward Deployed Engineering to lead and grow the UK team delivering GenAI and production ML for enterprise customers.

You will recruit, develop data scientists and ML engineers, manage key EMEA accounts, and shape product and GTM strategy through customer delivery.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading AI/ML services teams.
• Proven ability to scope, guide, and sell technical engagements.
• Deep ML/GenAI expertise with cloud delivery.
• Experience delivering production ML solutions in cloud environments.
• Track record of strategy with senior executives to define program goals and align vision.
• Cross-functional leadership with Sales, Product, and GTM.

Responsibilities

• Hire, mentor, and build a high-performing AI/ML services team and structure.
• Manage a portfolio of key EMEA accounts and develop executive relationships.
• Align with Field Engineering and Sales to define joint strategies and ensured delivery.
• Lead strategic AI professional services initiatives and standardised delivery processes.
• Shape cross-functional collaboration by surfacing customer insights to Product, R&D, and GTM.
• Own OKRs for AI-services-led accounts, revenue, utilisation, and references.
• Represent Databricks as a thought leader in AI/ML.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Strategic planning

Delivery management

Cross-functional collaboration

Machine Learning

GenAI expertise

Public speaking

Tools

Databricks

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Senior Manager, AI Forward Deployed Engineering - London

Focuses on building and deploying GenAI/ML solutions on Databricks and cloud—emphasis is on production AI delivery rather than informal "vibe coding" tools.

About the Role

The Senior Manager, AI Forward Deployed Engineering will lead and grow Databricks' UK AI FDE team to deliver customer-facing GenAI and production ML engagements. The role focuses on recruiting and developing data scientists/ML engineers, managing strategic EMEA accounts, and shaping product and go-to-market strategy through customer-facing delivery.

Job Description

Role

Lead and scale Databricks’ UK Forward Deployed AI Engineering (AI FDE) team to deliver professional services engagements that build and productionize GenAI and ML applications for enterprise customers. Drive team development, account strategy, and cross-functional collaboration to influence product and GTM priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Hire, mentor, and build a high-performing AI/ML professional services team and team structure to support growth and scaled execution
• Manage a portfolio of key EMEA accounts, develop executive relationships (VP+, CIO/CDO), and act as a trusted advisor during complex AI transformations
• Align with Field Engineering and Sales leaders to define joint strategies and ensure coordinated delivery across functions
• Lead strategic AI professional services initiatives, practice development, and standardised delivery processes for repeatability
• Shape cross-functional collaboration by surfacing voice-of-customer insights to Product, R&D, and GTM teams
• Own OKRs for AI-services-led accounts, revenue, utilisation, and public references
• Represent Databricks as a thought leader in AI/ML

Requirements

• Extensive experience managing, hiring, and scaling teams of data scientists and ML engineers, including developing scalable processes and leaders
• Proven ability to scope, guide, and sell technical engagements, manage escalations, and ensure successful enterprise delivery
• Deep technical expertise in machine learning and GenAI with ongoing curiosity to stay current in the field
• Experience delivering production ML solutions in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Track record of developing strategy with senior executive stakeholders to define program-level goals and align technical vision
• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership collaborating with Sales, Product, and GTM teams

Preferred

• Experience in a customer-facing consulting or professional services leadership role
• Experience working with Databricks

Location & Reporting

Location: London, United Kingdom. Role is remote for candidates based in the United Kingdom region only (not remote from other countries). Reports to the Director, AI FDE.

Region-specific benefits are provided (details vary by location).

Databricks Genie Lakebase Agent Bricks Lakeflow Lakehouse Unity Catalog AWS Azure GCP

Skills

Leadership Team Building Hiring Mentoring Stakeholder Management Executive Communication Strategic Planning Customer-facing Consulting Professional Services Delivery Program/Project Management Cross-functional Collaboration Delivery Management OKR Management Escalation Management Product Influence Machine Learning/GenAI expertise