BUILDING DATA SYSTEMS
THAT ACTUALLY WORK
Data Engineer focused on building reliable, scalable systems that solve real problems. Six years of experience turning messy data challenges into working solutions using streaming platforms, cloud infrastructure, and modern data tools.
ABOUT ME
I enjoy figuring things out. Not in a dramatic way, just the simple satisfaction of taking something unclear and slowly making sense of it. That mindset shows up in my work, in my interests, and in how I approach problems in general.
Most days outside of work revolve around staying active. I spend a lot of time at the gym, I run, and I go out on long road bike rides when I can. Football has always been a big part of my life, and I genuinely enjoy watching and analyzing the game. I am a lifelong Arsenal fan, which means I have learned to stay patient, optimistic, and slightly stubborn.
I work as a Data Engineer at bol.com, one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the Benelux. Over the last six years, I have worked on building data systems that need to scale, stay reliable, and actually be usable by real people. I am comfortable working with vague problems and helping turn them into something concrete, even when the direction is not fully clear from the start.
People I work with often describe me as pragmatic, someone who focuses on getting things done and keeping momentum. I am approachable, open minded, and easy to collaborate with, especially when things move fast. I enjoy being part of high paced, high stake teams and projects, where decisions matter and progress is visible. I care about quality, but I also care about keeping things practical and moving forward.
I am always trying to get a little better at what I do, whether that is technically or in how I work with others. I like building things that last, working with people I respect, and staying focused on what actually matters.
TECH STACK
Languages/Frameworks
Data Streaming
Data Warehouse & Cloud
Batch & Orchestration
DevOps/MLOps
EXPERIENCE
Senior Data Engineer
- Develop and maintain Bol.com's advanced analytics suite tracking customer and partner interactions in real-time, processing 2B events and 10M visits daily at 70,000 events per second
- Build and maintain real-time ingestion and enrichment pipelines using Apache Flink, Java, Kafka, and BigQuery for comprehensive platform insights
- Implement batch jobs for dataset cleansing, PII masking, and compliance checks using Airflow, Python, DBT, and BigQuery
- Develop diagnostic tools and SDKs in Kotlin and Java to streamline debugging and standardize data production across services
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams on engineering challenges including module integration, core functionality rearchitecting, scalability improvements, and architectural decisions to ensure platform resilience
Senior Data Engineer
- Built and managed a high-performing team of 2 data engineers, delivering seven production data pipelines in 5 months
- Optimized AWS infrastructure costs by 30% without impacting data pipeline performance or processes
- Collaborated with product owners on new requirements, managing data infrastructure and building data pipelines with ~98% data consistency
Data Engineer
- Spearheaded an end-to-end streaming architecture using Apache Flink and Apache Kafka, enabling business users to track agent locations and reducing logistics costs by 10%
- Implemented a real-time pricing trigger that notified users of real-time changes in buy prices
- Laid the foundation of a data scraping framework leveraging Appium, Genymotion, and Argo workflows, reducing 15 hours of manual work and increasing GMV by 10%
- Architected a real-time streaming pipeline that filters backend application logs, enabling the team to identify up to 50 bots
- Developed batch jobs written in Python, integrated with partner REST APIs, and scheduled via Argo workflows, successfully deploying seven pipelines to production
Data Testing Specialist
- Served as part of the data testing team with Fintech and Telecom clients in EMEA
- Analyzed and validated records exceeding 100 million on a daily basis to ensure data quality and integrity
- Managed data warehouse infrastructure and operations for Jazz (Veon Group)
Trainee Engineer
Contributed to the BSS operations team at China Mobile, collaborating directly with business stakeholders to gather and analyze data requirements. Built comprehensive analyses and interactive dashboards to support operational decision-making and business intelligence initiatives.
BEYOND WORK
Hybrid Athlete
Outside of work, I'm focused on being a hybrid athlete. I train across multiple disciplines : functional training, running, and outdoor biking because I enjoy the challenge of building a well-rounded foundation and continuously challening myself. I've also explored powerlifting and calisthenics briefly, and I enjoy playing football whenever I get the chance. Recently, I ran my first half-marathon at Veldhoven, which was a big milestone. This year I'm aiming for the Utrecht Marathon in May. I like to challenge myself every day, approaching training methodically and balancing endurance work with strength sessions and recovery, always working toward getting a bit stronger, faster, and more capable across different disciplines.
Click on any activity below to see 2025 stats ↓
Running
Building endurance through consistent training, from tempo runs to long-distance work
Strength
Focused strength training to build power, stability, and injury resilience
Cycling
Long road rides for aerobic base and active recovery between high-intensity sessions
What I'm Into
When I'm not training or working on data pipelines, I enjoy learning and exploring different interests. Here are a few things I'm currently into:
📚 Reading & Learning
I enjoy reading about systems thinking, endurance training methodologies, and data engineering architecture. Always have a few books going—usually a mix of technical deep-dives and sports science.
⚽ Football
Lifelong Arsenal fan. I enjoy watching matches, analyzing tactics, and following the beautiful game. There's something satisfying about understanding the patterns and systems that make teams successful.
🎵 Music
Music is a constant companion during training sessions and coding. Mostly listen to electronic, indie, and hip-hop—whatever keeps the flow state going.
🌍 Travel & Exploration
I like exploring new places, trying different foods, and experiencing how people live in different parts of the world. Utrecht is home base, but I'm always up for a new adventure when the opportunity comes up.
Life in Frames
Coming soon: A visual journey through training, travels, and everyday moments. Working on curating some photos that capture what life looks like beyond the code and data pipelines.
Photo gallery launching soon
LET'S CONNECT
Based in Utrecht. Always up for a chat about data engineering, grabbing a coffee, going for a run, or just kicking back and talking football. Love meeting new people and swapping ideas, whether it's about tech, sports, or random stuff in between.