Sr. Forward Deployed Engineer - Public Sector

Databricks Inc.; Los Angeles, San Diego, Berkeley (CA, CA, CA); Hybrid; USD 182,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Databricks is seeking a Sr. Forward Deployed Engineer to partner with federal government customers, architecting end-to-end data & AI solutions on the Databricks platform.

You will own design decisions, lead delivery, and ensure secure, scalable architectures with strong customer empathy. This hands-on, hybrid role requires travel to customer locations about 20–25% of the time and delivers measurable business impact through data pipelines, ML models, and enterprise-grade deployments across

Qualifications

• 6+ years in data engineering, data platforms & analytics, or software engineering.
• Experience with two or more cloud ecosystems (AWS, Azure, GCP) and expertise in at least one.
• Deep experience with distributed computing using Apache Spark and Spark 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, documentation and white-boarding skills.
• Experience working with enterprise clients and managing conflicts across a broad stakeholder range.

Responsibilities

• Lead production-grade customer projects by delivering reference architectures, custom applications and data ingestion and ML/AI model integration.
• Guide strategic customers through end-to-end design, build and deployment of big data and AI applications.
• Bootstrap or implement customer projects to ensure successful understanding, evaluation and adoption of Databricks.
• Lead architecture and design decisions to ensure secure, scalable solutions.
• Collaborate with the Databricks technical team, Project Manager, Architect and Customer team to deliver engagement components.
• Work with Engineers and Customer Support to provide product feedback and rapid issue resolution.
• Embed with customer teams from individual contributors to executives to understand challenges and deliver impact.
• Contribute accelerators, frameworks, and best practices that scale across accounts.

Skills

Data engineering

Cloud platforms

Apache Spark

CI/CD

MLOps

Data architectures

Enterprise client work

Job description

At Databricks, we are passionate about enabling data teams to solve the world's toughest problems, from making the next mode of transportation a reality to accelerating the development of medical breakthroughs. We do this by building and running the world's best data and AI infrastructure platform so our customers can use deep data insights to improve their business. Founded by engineers, and customer obsessed, we leap at every opportunity to solve technical challenges, from designing next-gen UI/UX for interfacing with data to scaling our services and infrastructure across millions of virtual machines. And we're only getting started.

The Role

As a Sr. Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you will work with federal government 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.

Please note: this role is hybrid and has a requirement to travel to customer locations 20-25% of the time

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.
• Deliver Technical Components: Work with the Databricks technical team, Project Manager, Architect and Customer teamto ensure the technical components of the engagement are delivered to meet customer's needs
• Cross-Collaborate: Work with Engineers and Customer Supportto 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're Looking For

Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years experience in data engineering, data platforms & analytics, or software engineering
• 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, documentation and white-boarding skills
• Experience working with enterprise clients and managing conflicts across a broad stakeholder range

Preferred Qualifications

• Databricks Certification
• Expertise in MLOps, ML/AI models, and AI APIs

Pay Range Transparency

Zone 1 Pay Range

$182,000 — $250,208 USD

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.