Databricks Subject Matter Expert

Databricks Subject Matter Expert

We are seeking a highly experienced Databricks Subject Matter Expert to join at the Lead / Principal level. In this role, you will serve as the firm's foremost technical authority on the Databricks Lakehouse Platform, guiding clients through complex data transformation initiatives—from strategic architecture design through hands on implementation and production deployment. You will partner directly with client stakeholders (CTOs, VPs of Data, and Engineering Leads) to define data strategies, architect scalable solutions on Databricks, and mentor delivery teams. This is a high visibility role that blends deep technical expertise with client advisory, pre sales support, and thought leadership. This role must be performed at the Dallas, TX location onsite 5 days of each week.

Key Responsibilities

• Solution Architecture & Design: Lead end to end design of Databricks Lakehouse architectures, including Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, and medallion (bronze/silver/gold) data models.
• Data Engineering & Pipeline Development: Architect and oversee large scale ETL/ELT pipelines using Apache Spark, Delta Live Tables, and Databricks Workflows.
• Machine Learning & MLOps: Guide clients on implementing end to end ML workflows using MLflow, Feature Store, and Model Serving on Databricks.
• Client Advisory & Engagement Leadership: Serve as the trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders on all matters related to data platform strategy and Databricks adoption.
• Thought Leadership & Practice Development: Contribute to the firm's intellectual property by developing frameworks, white papers, and training curricula around Databricks.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience in data engineering, analytics, or platform architecture.
• 5+ years of deep, hands on experience with Databricks, including production deployments at enterprise scale.
• Expert level proficiency in Apache Spark (PySpark and/or Scala), Delta Lake, and SQL.
• Proven track record designing multi cloud Lakehouse architectures (Azure, AWS, or GCP).
• Strong experience with Unity Catalog for data governance, access control, and lineage tracking.
• Demonstrated ability to lead client facing engagements and communicate complex technical concepts to executive audiences.
• Experience in a consulting or professional services environment, with a history of managing multiple concurrent engagements.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).

Preferred Qualifications

• Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional or Machine Learning Professional certification.
• Experience with Delta Live Tables, Databricks Workflows, and Photon engine optimization.
• Familiarity with complementary tools such as dbt, Terraform/Pulumi (IaC), and CI/CD pipelines for data platforms.
• Hands on experience with MLflow, Feature Store, and Model Serving in production environments.
• Prior experience as a Databricks partner or in a Databricks aligned practice within a consulting firm.
• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in a quantitative or technical discipline.

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