Senior Forward Deployed Engineer - Senior Architect
Databricks · London, United Kingdom · Professional Services Operations · listed January 14, 2026
The shape of it
Seniority
Principal
Where
Hybrid
Requirements listed
13
Length
814 words
In the posting’s own words
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 the most value out of their data.
What it asks for · 13
- Experience in data engineering, data platforms & analytics, or software engineering / full stack development
- 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 - an advantage
What the job covers
- 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 that lead to a customer's 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 customers' 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.
Tools and skills named
Data
- Databricks8×
- Spark3×
- Data pipelines
Cloud & infra
- AWS
- Azure
- CI/CD
- GCP
Languages
- JavaScript
- Python
- Scala
- TypeScript
Models & research
- Machine learning3×
Product & design
- Roadmap
Ways of working
- Technical writing
Words the posting leans on
- customer20×
- data10×
- technical8×
- projects7×
- architecture6×
- engineering6×
- design5×
- impact5×
- solutions5×
- deployment4×
- experience4×
- fde4×
- lead4×
- product4×
- applications3×
- build3×
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