Sr. Manager, AI Forward Deployed Engineering (AI-FDE)

Jackalope Digital LLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Databricks is seeking a world-class leader to grow and lead the EMEA Forward Deployed AI Engineering (AI FDE) team from London. You will recruit and develop data scientists and ML engineers, manage a portfolio of key accounts, and report to the Head of EMEA AI FDE.

You will drive strategic initiatives, align with Field Engineering and Sales, and own OKRs for AI-services led accounts, revenue, and references while representing Databricks as a thought leader in AI/ML.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading and growing AI/ML professional services teams.
• Ability to scope, guide, and sell complex technical engagements in enterprise environments.
• Deep ML/GenAI expertise with a track record of production deployments in cloud environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the AI/ML professional services team across EMEA, including hiring and mentoring.
• Develop executive relationships with VP+ CIO/CDO-level stakeholders as trusted advisor.
• Align with Field Engineering and Sales to define strategies for strategic accounts and ensure delivery coordination.
• Shape delivery methodologies, scalable engagement models, and reusable solutions for growth.
• Collaborate with Product, R&D, and GTM to inform roadmaps with customer insights and delivery learnings.

Skills

Team leadership

Executive stakeholder management

ML/AI expertise

Cloud platforms

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Hiring and mentoring

Education

Graduate degree in CS/Engineering/Statistics

Tools

Databricks

Job description

REQ ID: CSQ427R198

Location: London, United Kingdom - Remote location for candidates to be based in the United Kingdom region only (not remote from any other country)

Mission

The Forward Deployed AI Engineering (AI FDE) team is a highly specialised customer-facing AI team at Databricks. We deliver professional services (PS) engagements to help our customers build and productionize first-of-its-kind AI applications with a focus on GenAI. We work cross-functionally with AI/ML Product, Research, and Engineering to shape long-term strategic priorities and initiatives.

We are looking for a world-class leader to lead and grow our EMEA AI FDE team. In this role, you will lead customers on their AI/ML transformation with Databricks, push the boundaries of our product, recruit and develop top data scientists/machine learning engineers, and manage a portfolio of key EMEA accounts. You will report directly to the Head of EMEA AI FDE.

The impact you will have:

• Lead and scale a world-class AI/ML professional services team, including hiring, mentoring, and building a team structure to support long-term growth and execution at scale
• Develop and expand executive relationships with EMEA customers and partners (including VP+, CIO/CDO-level stakeholders), acting as a trusted advisor during complex technical engagements and AI transformations
• Align with Field Engineering and Sales Leaders to define joint strategies for strategic accounts and ensure strong delivery coordination across functions
• Lead strategic AI PS initiatives, practice development, and standardised delivery processes; design scalable engagement models and reusable solutions for repeatability across the global team
• Shape cross-functional collaboration by influencing Product, R&D, and GTM—ensuring voice-of-customer insights and delivery learnings help inform the product roadmap and GTM strategy
• Own OKRs for AI-services led accounts, revenue, utilisation, and public references
• Represent Databricks as a thought leader in AI/ML

What we look for:

• Extensive experience managing, hiring, and building a team of high-performing data scientists/ML engineers and leaders, with a track record of scaling organisations through developing scalable processes and cultivating leaders
• Ability to scope, guide, and sell technical engagements, manage escalations, and ensure successful delivery in enterprise environments
• Deep technical expertise in ML, GenAI, and data science, and curiosity to continue to stay up-to-date in this ever-changing field
• Experience leading teams building cutting-edge production ML solutions in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Proven success in developing a strategy with senior executive stakeholders to define program-level goals, align technical vision, and build trust throughout complex enterprise engagements
• Demonstrated experience in cross-functional leadership roles, collaborating with Sales, Product, and GTM teams to drive business impact through AI/ML
• “Company-first” mindset
• Graduate degree in a quantitative discipline (Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, Operations Research, etc.) or equivalent practical experience
  

Preferred:

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

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.

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