Level

Databricks

Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering

Databricks is hiring a Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering in Sydney, Australia. Level rates it ; you can apply on Databricks.

Level's read on this job

  • On Level's scale, this forward deployed engineer role is Works on AI ●●●○: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
  • Tools and skills the posting cites include MLflow, AI agents and MLOps.
  • Level classifies it as a senior role.
  • Level lists 894 other open roles at Databricks.

AI in this role

mlflow
ai-agentsml-ops

CSQ327R50

Databricks is redefining what organisations can achieve with data and AI. As the unified platform powering the world's most ambitious data-driven enterprises, we sit at the intersection of cloud migrations, AI transformation, and real-time intelligence—and our customers challenge us every day to go further. As Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering for NSW, you will lead a high-performing team of Forward Deployed Engineers and AI Engineers at the forefront of this transformation. Partnering with Databricks' most strategic enterprise accounts, you will shape how Australia’s leading organisations migrate to the lakehouse, build next-generation AI and GenAI systems, and unlock sustained business value from their data investments. 

As a people leader, you will build and scale a team that represents Databricks' highest standard of technical excellence and customer impact. Your team will partner with ASX100 enterprises across industries to architect and deliver mission-critical solutions, from large-scale data migrations and legacy modernisation programs to cutting-edge generative AI, MLOps, and AI agent deployments. You will set the bar for delivery quality, grow world-class talent, and drive the strategic governance framework that ensures every engagement is executed with precision and measurable impact.

The impact you will have:

  • Drive regional performance targets—including billable utilisation, team growth, and hiring—while championing delivery excellence and customer success across the ANZ FDE portfolio
  • Lead high-stakes enterprise engagements: partner with Account Executives, Engagement Managers, and Field Engineering leaders to position and deliver transformational PS programs spanning data migrations, AI/ML platforms, and advanced analytics
  • Champion delivery governance and operational rigor: establish best practices for project oversight, risk management, and quality standards that scale with a growing RSA & AI Engineering practice
  • Act as executive escalation point for critical customer situations, leveraging deep technical credibility and leadership judgment to protect strategic relationships and drive resolution
  • Develop and retain exceptional technical talent: mentor Resident Solutions Architects and AI Engineers through structured career pathways, technical coaching, and a culture of innovation, mastery, and continuous growth

What we look for:

  • 4+ years of people leadership experience managing high-performing technical delivery teams, solution architects, or professional services organisations—with a proven track record of building excellence-driven cultures
  • 5+ years of hands-on individual contributor experience as a technical solutions architect or data/AI engineer, providing the technical depth to coach and credibly support senior practitioners
  • Demonstrated success leading large-scale data platform migrations and AI/ML programs within enterprise environments, across industries such as Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Telco, or Energy
  • Strong executive presence and stakeholder management skills, with experience navigating complex, high-stakes customer environments and influencing at the C-suite level
  • Familiarity with Databricks, Apache Spark™, MLflow, Delta Lake, or the modern data and AI ecosystem; hands-on experience with Databricks or a direct competitor is highly valued

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

Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering at Databricks rates 76 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

AI agentsML OpsMLflow

Also common in forward deployed engineer jobs at this level

Pay

Typical forward deployed engineer job
$182k

This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical forward deployed engineer figure when pay comes up. See forward deployed engineer jobs

Questions you could be asked

  1. How do you decide when an AI agent can act on its own versus asking for approval first?
  2. How do you monitor a model once it's live, and how do you know it needs retraining?
  3. What are the limits of MLflow that you've run into, and how did you work around them?
  4. Describe a typical day in a role like this one: which parts run through AI directly?
  5. If you removed AI from this role, what would be left, and how do you decide what still needs a human?

Adapt your resume

  • List these exact terms on your resume: AI agents, ML Ops, and MLflow. 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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