Head of AI Forward Deployed Engineering (fde), Public Sector

Databricks Databricks · Data AI · CA · Remote · Professional Services Operations

Lead a customer-facing AI Forward Deployed Engineering (AI FDE) team focused on helping public sector customers build and productionize GenAI applications using Databricks. This role involves leading and scaling the team, developing executive relationships, driving strategic AI initiatives, and influencing product roadmaps.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead and scale a world-class AI FDE team, including hiring, mentoring, and building a team structure to support long-term growth and execution at scale
  2. Develop and expand executive relationships with key customers and partners (including VP+, CIO/CDO-level stakeholders), acting as a trusted advisor during complex technical engagements and AI transformations
  3. Align with Field Engineering and Sales Leaders to define joint strategies for strategic accounts and ensure strong delivery coordination across functions
  4. Lead strategic AI initiatives, practice development, and standardized delivery processes; design scalable engagement models and reusable solutions for repeatability across the global team
  5. 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

Skills

Required

  • Extensive experience managing, hiring, and building a team of high-performing data scientists/ML engineers and 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
  • Experience leading teams building cutting-edge production AI 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
  • Graduate degree in a quantitative discipline (Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, Operations Research, etc.) or equivalent practical experience

Nice to have

  • Experience in a customer-facing consulting or professional services leadership role
  • Experience working with Databricks

What the JD emphasized

  • active U.S. government security clearance is required
  • active secret or higher clearance are strongly encouraged to apply

Other signals

  • customer-facing AI team
  • build and productionize first-of-its-kind AI applications
  • GenAI
  • lead and grow our AI FDE Public Sector team
  • lead public sector customers on their AI transformation
  • manage a portfolio of key accounts