Sr. Forward Deployed Engineer

CSQ327R248 Location: New Zealand As a Technical Program Manager, you are instrumental in advancing our Forward Deployed Engineering team's mission, which is dedicated to accelerating and de-risking our customers' outcomes by ensuring the success of every project we undertake. Your role is pivotal in not only achieving project goals but also in maintaining an exceptional level of customer satisfaction throughout the process. You will expertly navigate the balance between delivering outstanding results and aligning with the commercial objectives of the Forward Deployed Engineering organization. Your leadership and strategic insight will contribute directly to our clients' success and the growth of our business. The impact you will have: You will take ownership of all commercial delivery of services from a project administration and director perspective across numerous projects, ranging from a single individual for 2-3 weeks to 6-month engagements of multi-person teams Serve as a trusted advisor to senior customer stakeholders, driving clarity, alignment, and confidence through all stages of delivery Shape the success of engagements by proactively managing risks, aligning cross-functional teams, and ensuring customer outcomes are met or exceeded Ensure accurate reporting on projects and keep all relevant parties up-to-date with project activity and success Drive growth in key accounts by identifying expansion opportunities, influencing future roadmaps, and enabling continued adoption of the Databricks platform Contribute to the evolution of delivery best practices within the Professional Services team and mentor junior team members to build future leaders What we look for: Proven experience leading complex, enterprise-scale data or AI/ML projects in a fast-paced customer-facing environment Extensive experience successfully managing and overseeing projects with teams of up to 5 people, with contract values in excess of $0.5 million Ability to engage, influence, and build trust with senior executive stakeholders on the customer side, including CxOs Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and familiarity with data lakehouse architecture or modern data platforms Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams across technical and business stakeholders, balancing scope, time, and risk Experience working with cross-functional teams, including engineering, solution architects, sales, and partners Skilled in driving structured governance, managing stakeholder expectations, and facilitating executive-level communication Experience in setting up and managing project delivery frameworks, including Agile, Scrum, or hybrid methodologies, ideally with PMI/PRINCE/AGILE certification Comfort with ambiguity and ability to bring clarity and structure to unstructured or evolving customer engagement Ability to identify delivery risks early and implement mitigation plans to ensure customer outcomes and satisfaction Experience with commercial aspects of delivery, including change control, SoW management, and margin protection High ownership mindset with a bias for action, accountability, and customer success Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels. Experience identifying opportunities to expand or upsell services in the context of ongoing delivery engagements A product-oriented mindset or experience working closely with product teams is a plus 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.