Level

Databricks

Director, Field Engineering (CPG & Retail)

Databricks is hiring a Director, Field Engineering (CPG & Retail). Level rates it ; you can apply on Databricks.

Level's read on this job

  • On Level's scale, this role is Works on AI ●●●○: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
  • The posting mentions leadership, pre sales and solutions architecture among its tools and skills.
  • Level classes it as an executive role.
  • Databricks has 895 other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

Lead a team of pre-sales managers and solutions architects helping retail and CPG enterprises scale Data and AI strategies.

leadershippre-salessolutions-architecturecloud-technologies

REQ ID: FEQ427R375

Mission:

As the Director of Field Engineering, you will be responsible for partnering with our enterprise Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Retail customers to democratize Data and AI within their organizations, leveraging Databricks solutions and expertise to address their most critical business challenges.

Reporting to the Tech GM of Field Engineering for Retail & Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), the Director, Field Engineering will lead a team of pre-sales Managers and Solutions Architects focused on acquiring new customers and expanding strategic relationships across the Retail and CPG industry. You will work closely with Sales, Product, Engineering, Customer Success, and executive stakeholders to drive strategy and execution against our ambitious growth goals.

You will foster a culture of psychological safety while developing and scaling a high-performing team with expertise in enterprise software, data engineering, analytics, AI/ML, and cloud technologies. Your experience partnering with Sales will help drive complex enterprise opportunities while coaching managers and field engineering teams to deliver exceptional customer outcomes. You will guide your team through strategic engagements, communicate complex technical solutions in terms of business value, support enterprise sales cycles, and build trusted relationships with senior business and technology leaders across the Retail and CPG industry.

The impact you will have: 

  • Hire and manage first-line Managers and a growing team of technical pre-sales
    Solutions Architects.

  • Build a collaborative culture within a rapid-growth team. Embody and promote
    Databricks' customer-obsessed, truth-seeking, diverse culture, and first principles
    mindset.

  • Develop trusted, long-term executive relationships with customers while maintaining a
    deep understanding of the Retail and CPG industry, including key business trends,
    competitive dynamics, and digital transformation priorities.

  • Help customers accelerate their Data and AI strategies across areas such as customer
    experience, merchandising, supply chain, demand forecasting, marketing, and
    operations.

  • Promote a solution- and value-based Field Engineering organization.

  • Display an understanding of customer business priorities and revenue opportunities
    across the assigned region and industry.

  • Serve as a thought leader for Databricks and within the Retail, CPG, Data, and AI
    ecosystem.

What we look for:

  • At least 3 years of second-line leadership experience managing teams of 30+
    individuals, with 10+ years of overall leadership experience.

  • Proven success leading high-growth enterprise software pre-sales organizations
    within Retail, CPG, cloud, data, analytics, or AI.

  • Experience partnering with Retail and/or CPG customers on large-scale data,
    analytics, AI, or digital transformation initiatives.

  • Ability to elevate executive engagement, with a track record of driving large strategic
    transactions and expanding high-growth enterprise accounts.

  • Proven leadership ability to influence, develop, and empower teams to achieve
    ambitious business objectives through collaboration.

  • Drive operational rigor to manage a high-growth business, establishing the right
    operating cadence while ensuring visibility into customer priorities, escalations, and
    product feedback.

  • Proven track record of delivering transformational customer outcomes and
    measurable business value.

  • Track record of building strong customer relationships and cross-functional
    partnerships across Sales, Engineering, Product, Marketing, and Customer Success.

  • Experience positioning technical solutions within complex enterprise environments
    and helping customers realize long-term value and platform adoption with Databricks.

  • Strong operational leadership with experience implementing scalable processes that
    improve the effectiveness and productivity of technical field organizations.

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or
    equivalent practical experience.

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.

How we rate this

Director, Field Engineering (CPG & Retail) at Databricks rates 65 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.

  1. ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
  2. ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
  3. ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
  4. ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

LeadershipPre SalesSolutions ArchitectureCloud Technologies

Questions you could be asked

  1. Tell me about a project where leadership was part of your work. What did you do?
  2. Tell me about a project where pre sales was part of your work. What did you do?
  3. Tell me about a project where solutions architecture was part of your work. What did you do?
  4. Tell me about a project where cloud technologies was part of your work. What did you do?
  5. Describe a typical day in a role like this one: which parts run through AI directly?

Adapt your resume

  • List these exact terms on your resume: Leadership, Pre Sales, Solutions Architecture, and Cloud Technologies. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
  • Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
  • Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.

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