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Senior Data Platform Engineer

SmartlyBerlin, Berlin, Germany; Helsinki, Uusimaa, FinlandResearch & Development
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Salary
Not listed
Job type
Full-time
Posted
25 Aug 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

Role Overview

The Senior Data Platform Engineer position at Smartly involves designing and constructing the core data sharing foundation for product services, analytics, and AI/ML workloads. Based in Berlin, Germany or Helsinki, Finland, this role suits experienced software professionals who want to shape a new platform early and tackle complex production challenges from day one. Team members establish standard pathways that enable safe, reliable, and scalable data reuse across the entire technical ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Design and develop platform services, tools, and workflows focused on contract-driven data publishing and consumption.
Implement the initial production architecture utilizing service-owned PostgreSQL tables, Debezium change data capture, Kafka event streaming, and DataHub catalog registration.
Create GitOps-style automation where schemas, ownership, lifecycle rules, compatibility checks, and runtime states are validated and managed as code.
Build developer tooling that offers product engineers immediate feedback prior to publishing or modifying data products.
Operate and refine the change data capture runtime model, handling Kubernetes workloads, offsets, schema history, and operational recovery.
Integrate platform metadata into DataHub to facilitate data discovery, lineage tracking, and impact analysis.
Partner with product, infrastructure, data engineering, analytics, and AI/ML departments to simplify cross-domain integrations.

Requirements

Extensive background in building and operating production software systems within platform, infrastructure, backend, or data-focused environments.
Solid comprehension of distributed systems trade-offs, covering reliability, idempotency, event ordering, and failure modes.
Practical familiarity with relational databases such as PostgreSQL, including schema design, replication, and performance tuning.
Hands-on experience with Kafka, event streaming, change data capture, or related technologies.
History of creating internal software such as command-line tools, control planes, or developer workflows that other engineers rely on.
Proficiency with Kubernetes and cloud or infrastructure platforms for deployment, observability, and runtime isolation.
Ability to transform ambiguous architectural requirements into practical, incremental production deliverables.
Fluent written and spoken communication skills in English to align multiple engineering groups.

Nice to Have

Prior work with DataHub or alternative data catalog and governance systems.
Exposure to open table formats, object-store data lakes, BigQuery, ClickHouse, or analytical storage solutions.
Familiarity with GitHub Actions, policy-as-code, infrastructure-as-code, or reconciliation controllers.
Understanding of data contracts, schema registries, Protobuf, Avro, JSON Schema, or contract testing.
Experience supporting feature-store access patterns, analytics, or AI/ML initiatives.
Knowledge of JVM languages, Python, TypeScript, Go, or Ruby.

Skills and Tools

Python
Kubernetes
TypeScript
Kafka
PostgreSQL
Debezium
DataHub
GitOps

Salary and Benefits

Inclusive global culture centered on transparency, trust, and mutual respect.
Opportunities for global impact through technology utilized by major brands for digital advertising.
Wellbeing support, paid holidays, and family leave provisions.
Equity options, performance-based incentives, and career development paths.
A flexible hybrid workplace model requiring three days a week in the office.

About the Company

Smartly operates as an AI-powered advertising technology company that transforms ad experiences for brands and consumers worldwide. The organization integrates media, creative, and intelligence capabilities into a single platform that processes massive digital advertising volumes. Recognized as a leader in creative advertising technologies, Smartly manages creative and media operations for hundreds of global brands across major digital channels. The multinational workforce brings together diverse talent across numerous countries to foster an inclusive and collaborative work environment.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the official Smartly careers page to submit their application and learn more about the recruitment process.

Skills and tech stack

PythonKubernetesTypeScriptKafka

Questions candidates ask

Where is the Senior Data Platform Engineer role located?

The position is based in Berlin, Germany or Helsinki, Finland, operating on a flexible hybrid schedule with three office days per week.

What core technologies will I work with in this role?

You will work primarily with Python, Kubernetes, TypeScript, Kafka, PostgreSQL, Debezium, and DataHub.

What is the primary goal of the Data Platform team at Smartly?

The team builds the standard path for governed data sharing across product services, analytics, and AI/ML by establishing contracts, control mechanisms, catalog metadata, and runtime building blocks.

Is direct experience with every listed tool required to apply?

No. Smartly values strong engineering fundamentals, ownership, curiosity, and the ability to build reliable systems over direct experience with every single listed technology.

What benefits are provided by Smartly?

Smartly offers equity options, performance-based rewards, wellbeing support, paid holidays, family leave, and a flexible hybrid working environment.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Smartly careers page.

Apply on company site