Senior Data Platform Engineer F | X | M

The Port of Rotterdam Authority sees data analytics as a key success factor for realizing its digital ambitions. The Port Authority is committed to a modern IT landscape that meets user needs and incorporates more advanced technologies.

The Data Technologies & Information Services (DTIS) team works daily to make all data ambitions possible, both for Data Scientists, Data Analysts, and applications that use data. The team builds a Data & Analytics Platform in Azure using various open-source techniques. The team has a broad Data & Platform Engineering foundation and focuses on providing tools for self-service Data Engineering, Science, and Analytics to our colleagues in various departments.

DTIS operates autonomously, which means we expect a lot of responsibility from each team member. To strengthen our data platform team, we are looking for a senior platform engineer/solution architect. In this role, you are responsible for designing, improving, and expanding the data capabilities that our platform offers. You have in-depth knowledge of Data Lakehouse solutions and data modeling techniques. Experience with Kubernetes and CI/CD within an (Azure) cloud environment is essential, as well as development experience in Go, Spark, and SQL. You are well-versed in Infrastructure as Code, preferably with Terraform. Additionally, you are familiar with Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and apply these methodologies in your daily work. As a platform engineer/solution architect, you help translate business requirements into functional and technical solutions. You ensure that the architecture aligns with the organization"s strategic goals and coordinate with colleagues on architectural principles. Furthermore, you support the team in delivering high-quality solutions and act as both a mentor and a sparring partner for your fellow engineers. You are open to feedback and strive for continuous improvement together.

At the same time, you take on your role and actively contribute to realizing the broader analytics capability and vision. You envision the data factory (including data lake, data warehouse, and analytics platforms) as lifelines through the port authority and know how to realize this together with the other analytics teams.

What does your role look like?

As a Platform Engineer/architect, you are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining scalable data analytics platforms. You work with various digital teams to ensure that data is efficiently and securely collected, stored, and accessible for Business Intelligence and data science purposes. Manage and optimize data pipelines and ETL processes. Ensure the integrity and security of data. Monitor the performance of the data platform and troubleshoot issues. Research and implement new technologies and best practices in data platform engineering. As a platform engineer/solution architect, you are responsible for delivering high-quality code and deployments. You realize data analytics use cases at logical, functional, and technical levels in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including data engineers and platform engineers. You work with the product owner to build the team"s vision and advise on how data analytics within the port ecosystem can be elevated.

A challenging role where no day is the same. A dynamic workplace at one of the most beautiful locations in Rotterdam, in a constantly changing port environment. You work at the Port Authority on challenging projects, but your own development is also an important project, so we are happy to invest in that as well. You smarter, we smarter! Additionally, we offer you:

• A starting salary depending on education and experience, up to €7,018 gross per month based on 36 hours per week.
• A 36-hour workweek.
• A personal choice budget of 19.6% on top of your gross monthly salary (composed of vacation allowance (8%), thirteenth month (8.33%), vitality contribution (2.3%), and an extra budget of 0.97%). This accumulated budget can be partially paid out in advance and/or used to buy a bicycle, make extra pension contributions to the ABP, purchase extra leave hours, or have career advice tax-friendly settled.
• You organize your days in a hybrid manner. You work partly from home and partly at the World Port Center. Everything depends on your work program and your own preferences. We ensure a well-equipped home workplace. You can do your reviews and meetings from home, but at the office, there are plenty of opportunities for personal meetings, focused work, or creative sessions.
• We contribute to your vitality by offering discounts on your gym membership (BFNL affiliated) and providing fruit at the workplace.
• You work at the Port Authority mainly on challenging projects, but your own development is also an important project, so we are happy to invest in that as well. A wide range of training and education options so you can further develop yourself. You smart, we all smarter.

The Digital & Information Technology (D&IT) department aims to implement and manage digital products and services. This contributes to the digital (data) strategy of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the digitization of the port as a whole.

Within D&IT, you will be part of Enabling Technology & Services (ET&S), which is responsible for all generic and department-wide digital services. ET&S consists of three teams:

Digital Workplace, IT Networks, Infrastructure & Digital Identity.

These teams are responsible for delivering mainly generic mission-critical IT services and infrastructures that ensure all IT services are used safely and reliably.

Data Collaboration & Integration.

DCI is responsible for all digital integration and customer communication issues with the HbR integration platform and the HbR online platform. Additionally, these teams drive the safe and agile exchange of data, both internally and for the port.

Data Technology & Information Services.

These teams are responsible for delivering and further developing data platforms, data services, and user tools for data science and business intelligence. This also includes quality assurance on the delivered data products (e.g., data science models) and underlying processes. The team consists of 9 colleagues and 7 external colleagues, mainly engineers, data scientists, and POs.

For Data Technology & Information Services (DTIS), we are looking for a senior platform engineer/solution architect. DTIS is a young team with a lot of energy and humor and is responsible for developing PoR’s state-of-the-art data analytics capability. We collect data from available sources within our own organization and the port. We then make this data accessible for reporting, dashboarding, business intelligence, and data science purposes. For the port authority itself but increasingly for the port community. We do this in line with Lean/Agile principles and according to Dev/Ops ways of working.

You have a higher professional education (HBO) or equivalent level of thinking and working, with at least 7 years of experience in designing and developing data platforms using technologies such as Go, SQL, Spark, and possibly Python. Proven experience in strategic thinking and setting up and maintaining Data Lakehouse solutions and Data Warehouses. Expertise in designing (partial) solutions for ingestion, processing, and storage of batch and streaming data. Extensive knowledge of Kubernetes, containerized workflows, and microservices architectures. Experience with cloud-based development, preferably in Azure. Deep experience with Infrastructure as Code; knowledge of Terraform is desired. Experience with the following elements is a plus:

• Databricks
• GitOps and Argo Workflows
• Network connectivity
• Familiarity with Data Build Tool (dbt)
• Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) Fluency in Dutch is a plus, but good command of English is also acceptable. The competencies we consider important for success in the role:

  Problem-solving ability: You can see the context and connections in complex issues. You can articulate and visualize complex matters in a simple way. Additionally, you have various ideas to solve a problem or issue. You build on the ideas and concepts of others and experiment with new approaches to come up with innovative solutions. Result-oriented: You are not deterred by problems, uncertainties, emotions, or setbacks in achieving objectives. You actively create opportunities and minimize problems, always keeping an eye on the balance between costs and benefits. Effective communication: You put yourself in the other person"s shoes to better understand them. You convince others with compelling examples and facts that match their level and area of interest. You deliver bad news concisely and clearly, giving the recipient space to vent, while actively listening and helping to find solutions. Strategic thinking: You have a helicopter view and a deep understanding of the market and environment of HbR. You think beyond the boundaries of your own work area and see how developments can impact HbR, translating these insights into strategic directions for the organization. An integrity investigation and online screening are part of the selection procedure. Valicare conducts this screening on behalf of the Port Authority.

Within our culture, everyone matters, and we strive to create a safe and familiar environment for you, where we inspire, support, and learn from each other. We achieve this by continuously engaging in dialogue about the value and impact of diversity and inclusion.

You, your (future) colleagues, our partners, suppliers, and customers are encouraged to share ideas with us to contribute to diversity and inclusion within our organization. Of course, it doesn"t stop at talking; the ideas that emerge are also put into practice!

But to be honest, we are not yet where we want to be. We promise to continue working hard on this together every day. We do this so that you and all your (future) colleagues feel at home within our organization, and because we believe that diversity and inclusion make us a better organization.

Our recruitment and selection process is crucial in this regard, as it directly impacts the composition of our organization. By recruiting based on competencies, we promise to offer equal opportunities to you as an applicant. So, regardless of who you are, where you come from, or who you love, we look forward to receiving your application.