Data + AI Platform — Creators of Apache Spark & the Lakehouse
The consensus on Databricks: Choose Databricks if you want elite data infrastructure work with strong equity — but brace for constant org changes.
Databricks was founded in 2013 by the original creators of Apache Spark, Delta Lake, and MLflow. That engineering-first DNA runs deep. With a $62B valuation and roughly 7,000 employees, Databricks has grown into the undisputed leader of the data lakehouse category. The culture balances startup intensity with the resources of a late-stage giant — internal tech talks, generous learning budgets, and a genuine belief that engineers should drive product decisions.
Mosaic AI (acquired 2023) — integrating foundation model capabilities into the Databricks platform.
Engineering-first culture where founders built the core tech. Small teams with high ownership, operating at massive scale.