Sr. Forward Deployed Engineer - Public Sector

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

Job summary

Databricks is seeking a Sr. Forward Deployed Engineer for public sector opportunities, working with federal, state and local government customers. You will own architecture, lead design decisions, and implement end-to-end systems spanning data engineering, AI, and application development.

The role is hands-on, customer-facing, and requires travel to client sites. The ideal candidate blends engineering depth with strong communication, empathy for customers, and a track record of delivering

Qualifications

• 6+ years experience in data engineering, data platforms & analytics, or software engineering.
• Fluency in coding with Python, Scala, JavaScript/TypeScript and modern frameworks.
• Two+ cloud experiences (AWS, Azure, GCP) with expertise in at least one.
• Deep experience with distributed computing using Apache Spark and knowledge of Spark internals.
• Familiarity with CI/CD for production deployments.
• Experience with MLOps, ML/AI models and AI APIs.
• Design and deployment of end-to-end data architectures combining pipelines, ML/AI and UIs.
• Experience delivering technical projects with documentation and white-boarding.
• Experience working with enterprise clients and managing conflicts across stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead production-grade customer projects by delivering reference architectures, data ingestion and ML/AI integrations.
• Guide strategic customers in end-to-end design, build and deployment of big data and AI applications.
• Bootstrap or implement customer projects to enable adoption of Databricks solutions.
• Own architecture decisions ensuring security, scalability and alignment with best practices.
• Collaborate with Databricks teams to deliver technical components meeting customer needs.
• Provide feedback to product teams and guide rapid issue resolution for engagements.

Skills

6+ years experience in data eng/analyt

Python/Scala/JS

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Apache Spark

CI/CD

MLOps

End-to-end data architectures

Technical project delivery

Stakeholder management

Databricks FDE experience

Tools

Databricks Platform

Job description

Sr. Forward Deployed Engineer - Public Sector

Alabama; Berkeley, California; California; Connecticut; Los Angeles, California; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; San Diego, California; Washington

CSQ327R221

PLEASE NOTE:

Due to federal contract requirements and client site access obligations, U.S. citizenship and eligibility for a U.S. government Public Trust, Secret and/or Top Secret clearance are required to access classified information. The position is based in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia metropolitan area and includes periodic on‑site work and client collaboration. Candidates with an active Public Trust or higher clearance are strongly encouraged to apply.

About Databricks

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, state, and local 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 team to ensure the technical components of the engagement are delivered to meet customer's needs
• Cross-Collaborate: Work with Engineers and 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're Looking For

Minimum Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years experience in data engineering, data platforms & analytics, or software engineering
• Databricks Certification
• Expertise in MLOps, ML/AI models, and AI APIs

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected base salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipated utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here .

Zone 1 Pay Range $182,000 — $250,208 USD

Zone 2 Pay Range $182,000 — $250,208 USD

Zone 3 Pay Range $182,000 — $250,208 USD

Zone 4 Pay Range $182,000 — $250,208 USD

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.