CV Simon

Last updated Apr 9, 2024

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I am an accomplished data engineer and technical educator with over 20 years of experience contributing to the success of diverse organizations across aerospace, banking/finance, computer science, energy, insurance, internet/web, military/defense, and public administration sectors. As a hands-on developer of innovative solutions, plans, and strategies, I focus on growing businesses, optimizing products and services, and boosting productivity organization-wide. I am a dedicated, empathetic, and entrepreneurial data engineer recognized for my superior performance and contributions to corporate missions.

• Author of ssp.sh, a top-ranked blog on Google for Data Engineering, and a contributor to publications such as Towards Data Science, freeCodeCamp, and Hackernoon. Currently, I am writing a book.
• Recognized as a top 25 Content Creator and content creator on Databand, and as one of the top writers in the field on Quora since 2020.
• Creator of the Data Glossary, a connected knowledge hub employing backlinks and interactive graphs for an enriched learning experience.
• Built and delivered a data warehouse/architecture to a global organization of more than 1,400 staff members, facilitating a cultural shift from Excel to a sophisticated information management tool.
• Established the standard and legal reporting components of new banking software, integrating the latest GUI and technologies in the Swiss Banking market.
• Instrumental in elevating the performance of diverse businesses by delivering innovative technical solutions, from data warehouses to dashboards, enabling the completion of complex projects/initiatives.

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Data Engineering | Business Intelligence (BI) | SQL | Data Visualization | Python | Technical Writing
Cross-Functional Communications | Multicultural Teams | Quality Assurance | Curiosity | Motivation
Data Architecture, Design, Analysis | Data Modeling | Master Data | Open Source
_Languages_: German (Native), English (Fluent), French (Basic)

Senior Data Engineer

I am focused on developing intelligent ICT solutions that are pragmatic and impactful, moving beyond merely creating “fancy apps.”

• Co-architecting the design and development of HelloDATA, an enterprise open-source data platform redefining the data management landscape.
• Engineering reliable interfaces to ensure seamless operation of our data pipelines, crucial for the modern data stack.
• Automating and optimizing data pipelines, involving intricate data extraction and transformation processes.
• Implementing DevOps practices to run our platform efficiently on Kubernetes, tailored to the unique demands of data engineering.
• Bringing a deep knowledge of—and an eager interest in advancing my understanding of—essential tools and programming languages for data management, including Apache Airflow, Apache Superset, DBT, SQL, and Python.

Key Projects:

• Leading the HelloDATA initiative, an enterprise data platform that consolidates the open data stack into a cohesive portal. This initiative highlights our dedication to open-source principles and will be publicly available on GitHub.

Data Engineer, Technical Author, and Educator

I maintain an awareness of new and emerging technologies and enjoy sharing this knowledge.

Key Projects:

• Book: A living book on Data Engineering Design Patterns (DEDP), freely accessible online.
• «Data Engineering Vault»: Published articles on data engineering and the data ecosystem
• Developed the Practical Data Engineering Project with 180+ stars on GitHub.
• Shared the power of a Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) system for a deeper life. Imagine capturing every fleeting thought, every piece of knowledge, and interlinking them. It’s more than productivity; it’s about crafting a deeper existence.
• A strong advocate for building a Second Brain, with a public and open-source framework.
• Enjoying the productivity boost from Markdown and optimization with (neo)vim, and more.

Data Engineer & Technical Author

I have continually produced top-notch data engineering content and led creative initiatives, enhancing the company’s reputation as an authority in the data engineering field and exemplifying my commitment to Airbyte’s principles and goals.

• Consistently delivered high-quality work, including top-performing articles on data engineering, and educating the community about it.
• Proactively taken responsibility for innovative projects, showcasing adaptability and collaboration with the engineering and analytics team.
• Successfully educated on platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit, building personal and Airbyte’s brand as a respected data engineering voice.
• Contributed to the Analytics team by implementing Dagster, automating Pull Request creation, and refining change management processes.
• Demonstrated a strong commitment to Airbyte’s values, including project ownership, constructive criticism, humility, confidence, and respect.

Key Projects:

• Authored highly-ranked articles on data engineering, such as “Rust for Data Engineering”, “Data Orchestration Trends”, “Data Lake Lakehouse Guide”, and “The Rise of the Semantic Layer,” which were featured in Google’s top 10 search results for relevant queries.
• Conceptualized and launched a groundbreaking Data Glossary, and coined the term Open Data Stack, which is featured on GitHub Repository.
• Implemented a new DuckDB destination for Airbyte.
• Collaborated and educated with Databricks, the leading data company, by creating a well-received blog post and an informative Delta Lake video.

Data Engineer

Architected innovative data solutions for the foundation of new Research and Development (R&S) products – influencing 150 employees in SwissQual and 12,000 in Rohde & Schwarz globally.

• Added features and innovated the data foundation for the SmartAnalytics product.
• Enabled and secured a scalable cloud-native environment for big data and data engineering.
• Automate and program data pipelines for Machine Learning use cases.
• Working with Scrum methodology with people from different technologies stacks such as Database Design (SQL, OLAP), modern web technologies (Angular, node.js), Machine Learning (Python, Pandas, Tensorflow), and testing.

Key Projects:

• Initiated and developed a company-wide Big Data Platform on Kubernetes with services such as an event-driven data pipeline with Kafka, S3 Gateway MinIO, Zenko, and Noobaa. Sub-second OLAP solution for dashboarding with Apache Druid. Data Lake is based on Delta Lake powered by Spark. Data Orchestration with Dagster.
• Built Jinja templating framework for defining statistical calculations in the central metadata store.
• SmartAnalytics – Enables mobile network operators to effectively store, process, and visualize big data, and gain deep network insights. Offering features necessary for data management and validation as well as statistical and diagnostic analysis (root cause analysis), and embedded machine learning to guide data analysis and extract key insights otherwise hidden in the structure of the data.

Data Engineer & Business Intelligence Specialist

Provide expert creation and launch of data management solutions for an organisation comprised of 1,000 employees.

• Orchestrated design, development, and delivery of Consolidated Data Warehouse for aerospace platform.
• Defined hybrid data architecture with Amazon Data Lake, Palantir Foundry, and local data warehouse; gathered Datum für a from multiple disparate sources to predict upcoming aircraft/ground maintenance events.
• Ensured optimal operation of new systems/features by users globally through training and support.

Key Projects:

• Generated New BI Solutions for Airbus Spares and Satair based on SAP systems. Developed Data Warehouse Architecture, ETL with SSIS, multidimensional cubes with SSAS, and interactive dashboards in addition to selecting frontend tools and driving the launch of new solutions.
• Formulated Data Analytics based on Big Data including Data Governance for forecasting the behavior of customers as well as potential sales.
• Implemented a Modern Human Resource Storyboard Solution for 150 users.
• Established Master Data solution for Airbus and Satair Channel with Microsoft Master Data Service (MDS). Trained users via e-learning, guides, and on-site sessions. Created data model and ETL process for extraction from MDS and automatic import from SAP systems.
• Supported (second and third level) and developed solutions for global organizations.

Entrepreneurial Business Intelligence Specialist

Collaborated with 20 entrepreneurs in brain-storming, learning, innovation, and an inspirational retreat.

Business Intelligence Consultant

Worked closely with IT/services clients (600 employees / 11 locations in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Denmark) in the creative development of BI solutions and data warehouse projects.

• Ensured compliance with client requirements through needs assessment, business modeling, coaching, and implementation of business / technical objectives.
• Performed Microsoft BI development with SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS (MDS, DQ, and Excel add-Ins, PowerPivot, Power View, and Power Map, Data Warehouse Automation (biGenius), ETL, Data integration with Oracle, SQL, and PL/SQL development).
• Administered development, maintenance, performance evaluations, specifications, legacy systems replacement, multichannel management, and data warehouse solutions development functions.

Key Projects:

• Implemented an extensive data warehouse spanning 162 tables, 15 facts, and 43 dimensions in alignment with Scrum methodology with data warehouse automation tool biGenius in cycles.
• Innovated and delivered Master Data Service (MDS) solution. Completed installation and customization of workflow with MDS. Developed business reports with SSRS.
• Migrated Oracle database to Microsoft SQL, including the recreation of complex recursive Oracle database views into CTE in SQL.
• Designed and launched a data warehouse solution, serving as ETL / SSIS / SSAS developer.
• Evaluated SyncService to improve data quality, serving as a database specialist in Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Ruby on Rails.
• Improved existing BI-solution monitoring, maintenance, and implementation functions with MS BI Stack (SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS).

Database Specialist

Developed solutions within Oracle environment, enhancing transactional banking data loading (OLTP), materialized / complex views, performance testing/tuning, and applications maintenance – impacting 500 employees in RTC Real Time Centre, 2,000 in HP Switzerland, and 320,000 in HP globally.

Key Projects:

• Created and launched a new payment transaction solution.
• Designed and implemented a new accounting management system.
• Collaborated in department operations and application management functions.

aspin GmbH / Heinrichswil, Switzerland
Software Developer – Industrial Automation 2008

Military Training School, DDPS, Zürich / Frauenfeld, Switzerland
General Staff Officer – Planning 2007-2008

BKW FMB Energie AG, Bern, Switzerland
Computer Science Apprenticeship 2003-2007

Quora.com
Most Viewed Writers in Data Engineering and Data Warehouses 2020-2022

Project Botticelli Ltd
Practical Data Science with Rafal Lukawiecki 2017
Cortana Intelligence, Azure Machine Learning, R, and SQL Server Data Mining

Talent Programme at Satair Group
Certification of High Performance, Aspiration, and Great Engagement 2017

Hackathon in Toulouse
Predictive Analytics Hackathon - Global Airbus Group, Flight Radar 24 2016

Bern University of Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Information Technology
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology 2010-2015
Thesis: Municipality cockpit - maintenance management of roads. Grade: A (Excellent)

Microsoft Certificates
Microsoft Certified Professional, Querying Microsoft SQL Server (70-461) 2015

AKAD College, Bern
Technical National Vocational Qualification 2008-2010

As a father and a family person, I endeavor to use my skills to positively impact the world around me.

I have a passion for race biking and sports in general, and I cherish spending time with my family. You can delve into my personal journey in Finding My Pathless Path, stay current with my Now Page, or watch a video on how I pivoted into technical writing.

Why an Online CV?

Given that much of my work and writing is already accessible online, it seemed fitting to include my CV in this digital format. This approach not only simplifies updates but also shifts away from the traditional, less accessible PDFs. Now, a simple link invites exploration and connection.

Last updated: 2023-11-09
References: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, GitHub, Website, Contact