Sr. Manager, AI Forward Deployed Engineering
Databricks
Salary undisclosed
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Description
REQ ID: CSQ427R198
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
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.
About this role
Databricks is seeking a senior leader to build and scale its AI Forward Deployed Engineering practice across EMEA. This role combines hands-on technical leadership with P&L ownership: you'll manage a team of data scientists and ML engineers delivering high-impact professional services engagements, primarily focused on GenAI applications. Beyond team building and hiring, you'll own revenue and utilization targets, develop deep relationships with C-suite stakeholders at major accounts, and act as a trusted advisor through complex AI transformations.
The position sits at the intersection of customer success, product strategy, and go-to-market. You'll work cross-functionally with Product, R&D, and Sales to shape how Databricks evolves based on real-world customer needs, while also standardizing delivery processes and building reusable solutions for the global team. This requires both the ability to scope and guide technical engagements at enterprise scale and the strategic mindset to influence organizational priorities.
You should have extensive experience building and scaling high-performing teams of ML engineers and data scientists, deep technical expertise in machine learning and GenAI, and a track record leading complex enterprise engagements in cloud environments. A background in consulting or professional services leadership is preferred. The role is based in Amsterdam and requires in-office presence.
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Pay for this role
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