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Databricks

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Sr. Manager, AI Forward Deployed Engineering (AI-FDE)

🗓️ Posted 2026-09-11 Munich, Germany Hybrid ICT

Company shared salary

NA

Market rate

10,000 EUR–15,000 EUR/mo (120,000 EUR–180,000 EUR/yr)

Based on similar roles (title + domain + location).

About the Company

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.

About the Role

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.

Responsibilities

  • 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.

Requirements

  • 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.