Forward Deployed Engineering - Architect

Databricks Inc.; London (KY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Databricks is seeking a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer to own architecture and deliver production-grade data and AI solutions in a hybrid London setting. You will lead design decisions, implement end-to-end systems, and work cross-functionally with engineering, product, and customer teams to maximize value.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in data engineering or software, strong skills in Python/Scala/JS, and deep Spark experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in data engineering, data platforms, or software engineering.
• Proficient in Python, Scala, or JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Experience with two or more cloud ecosystems (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Deep experience with distributed computing using Apache Spark.
• Knowledge of Spark runtime internals.
• CI/CD for production deployments.
• Familiar with MLOps and ML/AI models.
• Strong architectural design and end-to-end data architectures.
• Experience with enterprise clients and cross-stakeholder management.
• Willingness to travel ~20%.

Responsibilities

• Lead production-grade data and AI solution delivery, including reference architectures and data ingestion.
• Define end-to-end designs for big data and AI applications with customer input.
• Guide customer architecture decisions to ensure security and scalability.
• Collaborate with engineering, project managers, and customer teams to deliver engagements.
• Provide feedback to product teams and resolve issues with support.
• Embed with customer teams to understand challenges and deliver impact.
• Create reusable accelerators and best practices to scale across accounts.
• Travel to customers about 20% of the time.

Skills

Data engineering

Programming: Python/Scala/TS

Cloud platforms

Distributed computing

MLOps

Stakeholder management

Architectural design

Client-facing

Travel readiness

Technical communication

Tools

Apache Spark

CI/CD tooling

ML/AI tools

Job description

Senior Forward Deployed Engineer - Architect All levels

Location: London, United Kingdom - Hybrid

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 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 specification 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 which leads to a customers' 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 customer's 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:

• Strong years experience in data engineering, data platforms & analytics, or software engineering
• 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 preferred but not essential

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. 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.

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.