Director, Field Engineering (Specialist)

Director of Field Engineering (Specialists), Retail

Location - Remote, US

Requisition FEQ127R192

Databricks is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader for the role of Director of Field Engineering (Specialist SA), Retail. This position will lead teams of deeply technical pre-sales Specialists Solutions Architects and first-line managers focused on large enterprise accounts in the Retail vertical. The Specialist SA is a member of the pre-sales account team with deep specialization in Data Engineering, ML/GenAI, Data Warehousing, or Infrastructure. The Director will play a pivotal role in driving Databricks’ mission to empower our customers with secure, AI-driven data solutions that accelerate customer outcomes and modernize enterprise-scale operations. This role will report to the Tech GM of Field Engineering, Retail.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of pre-sales Solutions Architects and first-line managers, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.

• Partner with sales organizations to develop and execute strategic plans that drive platform adoption, customer satisfaction, and mission success across the entire Retail vertical.

• Build and maintain trust-based relationships with key stakeholders, understanding customer-specific landscapes, compliance requirements, and priorities.

• Promote a solution and value-based selling approach tailored to the unique needs of these customers, emphasizing secure, AI-driven data solutions.

• Drive transformational success by supporting large, complex consumption driven sales cycles and ensuring Solutions Architects deliver measurable value.

• Champion Databricks’ values of customer obsession, respect, teamwork, and diversity within Databrick's field engineering organization.

• Report on market trends and the forces shaping the strategic direction of accounts, providing actionable insights to Databricks’ leadership.

• Enhance Databricks’ brand in this sector by collaborating with go-to-market, sales, and partner teams, and representing Databricks at industry events and with partners.

Requirements

• 8-10 years of experience as a Senior Manager or Director level (manager of managers with teams of 20+) in a pre-sales or technical solutions architecture facing role.

• Demonstrated success in enterprise software pre-sales leadership, with experience with consumption-sales motions in the Retail, Consumer Products, or Travel & Hospitality market.

• Proven ability to drive large transactions and high-growth enterprise customers, with a track record of delivering customer value and transformational outcomes.

• Experience building and leading cross-functional teams (Sales, Engineering, Product Management) in complex, strategic accounts.

• Passion for data-driven decision-making, AI, and cloud software models, with the ability to communicate complex, business value-focused solutions to stakeholders.

• Strong process orientation, with experience instituting best practices for technical field teams to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

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

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with or within Retail, Consumer Products, or Travel & Hospitality industry a plus.

• Familiarity with Databricks’ Data Intelligence Platform, Unity Catalog, and Lakehouse architecture.

• Knowledge of data governance, cybersecurity, and AI/ML adoption trends.

About Databricks

Databricks is the data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide — including Comcast, Condé Nast, Grammarly, and over 50% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to unify and democratize data, analytics and AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark™, Delta Lake and MLflow. To learn more, follow Databricks on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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, please visit https://www.mybenefitsnow.com/databricks.

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.