Mission
The Forward Deployed AI Engineering (AI FDE) team at Databricks is a highly specialized customer-facing AI team that delivers professional services (PS) engagements. The team helps customers build and productionize first-of-its-kind AI applications with a focus on GenAI. They work cross-functionally to shape long-term strategic priorities and initiatives alongside AI/ML Product, Research, and Engineering.
Databricks is looking for a world-class leader to lead and grow the 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 standardized 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, utilization, 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 organizations 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 developing 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