Ivan is currently unavailable
Ivan Nikolic
Verified Expert in Engineering
Data Engineering Expert and Developer
Belgrade, Serbia
Toptal member since October 22, 2024
Bio
Ivan is a results-driven data engineering expert with nine years of experience refining data management practices. Skilled in Python, SQL, and Google Cloud Services, he focuses on crafting scalable data pipelines and streamlining workflows to boost data warehouse efficacy. As a data engineering manager, Ivan guided a team of 18, fostering professional growth and promoting engineers to senior positions. He instituted Scrum methodologies to optimize project delivery and stakeholder satisfaction.
Portfolio
Toptal
Python, Google Cloud, SQL, Apache Airflow, Terraform, Streamlit, ChatGPT...
Toptal
Jira, People Management, Google BigQuery, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), BigQuery...
Toptal
Python, Luigi, SQL, BigQuery, Google Cloud, Jenkins, Google BigQuery...
Experience
- Python - 7 years
- SQL - 7 years
- Data Engineering - 5 years
- Google Cloud - 4 years
- BigQuery - 3 years
- Data Governance - 3 years
- ChatGPT - 2 years
- Streamlit - 2 years
Preferred Environment
Python, Google Cloud, SQL, Data Governance
The most amazing...
...project I've collaborated on was in a startup-like environment. It involved developing an early version of a podcast platform, Marbyl.
Work Experience
Senior Data Engineer
2023 - 2024
Toptal
- Integrated ChatGPT into the tools stack to extract personal skills from freelancers' engagements, profiles, and call transcripts, doubling the job-matching efficiency.
- Automated the data labeling process by shifting from manual spreadsheets to an automated data gathering flow. Implemented the Labelbox tool for labeling, tripling data labeling efficiency.
- Created an internal and secure web application for monitoring BigQuery table usage utilizing Streamlit, Terraform, and Google Cloud Run, increasing process efficiency by 50% and minimizing reliance on manual checks.
- Enhanced the data engineering team's autonomy by managing parts of its infrastructure, reducing reliance on the infrastructure team.
- Interviewed and assessed 60+ candidates for data engineering roles over three years, improving hiring efficiency and team quality.
- Facilitated cross-team collaboration by sharing technical engineering knowledge with the business intelligence (BI) team, fostering closer cooperation and alignment on data-related initiatives.
- Improving data governance by managing the data catalog, ensuring data integrity and accessibility for all stakeholders.
Technologies: Python, Google Cloud, SQL, Apache Airflow, Terraform, Streamlit, ChatGPT, Google Cloud Composer, Cloud Storage, Google Cloud Storage, PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, Google BigQuery, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), BigQuery, APIs, Data Modeling
Data Engineering Manager
2022 - 2023
Toptal
- Managed the data engineering team of 18 individuals, driving team success and fostering professional growth.
- Promoted four engineers to senior data engineers and one to principal data engineer.
- Pioneered the technical product manager role and collaborated with the squad program manager to design and implement a shift from Kanban to Scrum methodology, enhancing project delivery time and team efficiency.
- Formalized processes to boost stakeholder satisfaction, enhance team output predictability, and improve initiative ETA visibility.
- Headed the initiative to split the team into two smaller teams, increasing operational efficiency, and hired and onboarded a new engineering manager to lead the second team.
- Conducted regular one-on-one meetings with team members and helped with their career plans.
- Conducted interviews for the engineering manager and data engineering positions.
- Introduced and established the intern data engineering role, designing a comprehensive onboarding curriculum.
- Mentored and developed an intern, resulting in a promotion to junior data engineer within six months.
Technologies: Jira, People Management, Google BigQuery, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), BigQuery, APIs, Data Modeling
Data Engineer
2021 - 2022
Toptal
- Focused on ingesting marketing-related data from 10+ data sources into the team data warehouse utilizing technologies like Python, Luigi, SQL, BigQuery, and Jenkins to improve stakeholder data availability.
- Led effort to enhance stakeholder satisfaction, achieving a 30% increase in positive feedback for the data engineering team overall regarding marketing data ingestion tasks, and provided a personal connection to the BI team.
- Interviewed people for the data engineering position in the team.
Technologies: Python, Luigi, SQL, BigQuery, Google Cloud, Jenkins, Google BigQuery, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), APIs, Data Modeling
Data Engineer
2020 - 2021
HTEC Group
- Contributed to a BI unit for a Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google (FAANG) client.
- Focused on data discovery in a data lake, ETL pipelines, data warehouse governance, API management, and designing BI reports.
- Utilized technologies like Scala, Python, Spark, Hadoop, Hive, Tableau, Docker, and Jenkins.
Technologies: Scala, Python, SQL, Spark, Hadoop, Apache Hive, Tableau, Docker, Jenkins, APIs
Machine Learning (ML) Engineer
2017 - 2020
HTEC Group
- Contributed to several R&D projects for potential clients in industries like robotics and healthcare using technologies like OpenCV, Python, PyQT, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, leading to developing 3+ prototype solutions.
- Collaborated in a startup-like environment on developing an early version of a podcast platform, Marbyl, focusing on the labeling process, tooling, and data gathering using Python, PyQT, and SQLite.
- Optimized a data-gathering process, reducing time spent on data collection by creating the data labeling tool in collaboration with the labeling team, refining the tool based on the feedback, and reducing time spent on data collection fivefold.
Technologies: OpenCV, PyQt, Python, APIs
Software Engineer
2015 - 2017
Microsoft
- Created and implemented various features for sway.com.
- Developed and implemented features for Microsoft Office Lens.
- Enhanced user experience and utilized technologies such as C#, .NET, and Windows Server.
Technologies: C#, Windows Server
Experience
Toptal Projects
Integrated ChatGPT, automated data labeling, and crafted a web application for BigQuery monitoring as a senior data engineer. I also managed infrastructure, interviewed candidates, and collaborated with the BI team.
Transitioning to the role of data engineering manager, I oversaw a team of 18, championed engineer growth, implemented Scrum methodologies, and introduced the technical product manager position, enhancing team efficiency.
Initially, as a data engineer, I specialized in marketing data ingestion, elevating stakeholder satisfaction, and conducting candidate interviews.
My contributions across these roles demonstrate my expertise in data engineering, leadership, and team management.
Transitioning to the role of data engineering manager, I oversaw a team of 18, championed engineer growth, implemented Scrum methodologies, and introduced the technical product manager position, enhancing team efficiency.
Initially, as a data engineer, I specialized in marketing data ingestion, elevating stakeholder satisfaction, and conducting candidate interviews.
My contributions across these roles demonstrate my expertise in data engineering, leadership, and team management.
Education
2015 - 2017
Master's Degree in Software Engineering
University of Belgrade - Belgrade, Serbia
2011 - 2015
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
University of Belgrade - Belgrade, Serbia
Certifications
FEBRUARY 2018 - PRESENT
Deep Learning
DeepLearning.AI | via Coursera
FEBRUARY 2018 - PRESENT
Sequence Models
DeepLearning.AI | via Coursera
DECEMBER 2017 - PRESENT
Convolutional Neural Networks
DeepLearning.AI | via Coursera
DECEMBER 2017 - PRESENT
Improving Deep Neural Networks: Hyperparameter Tuning, Regularization, and Optimization
DeepLearning.AI | via Coursera
DECEMBER 2017 - PRESENT
Neural Networks and Deep Learning
DeepLearning.AI | via Coursera
DECEMBER 2017 - PRESENT
Structuring Machine Learning Projects
DeepLearning.AI | via Coursera
Skills
Libraries/APIs
OpenCV, PyQt, Luigi
Tools
BigQuery, ChatGPT, Tableau, Jenkins, Jira, Apache Airflow, Terraform, Google Cloud Composer
Languages
Python, SQL, C#, Scala
Platforms
Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Windows Server, Docker, Kubernetes
Storage
Google Cloud, Apache Hive, Google Cloud Storage, PostgreSQL
Frameworks
Spark, Hadoop, Streamlit
Other
Data Engineering, Google BigQuery, APIs, Data Modeling, Data Governance, Computer Science, Software Engineering, People Management, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Neural Networks, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Sequence Models, Cloud Storage
Collaboration That Works
How to Work with Toptal
Toptal matches you directly with global industry experts from our network in hours—not weeks or months.
1
Share your needs
Discuss your requirements and refine your scope in a call with a Toptal domain expert.
2
Choose your talent
Get a short list of expertly matched talent within 24 hours to review, interview, and choose from.
3
Start your risk-free talent trial
Work with your chosen talent on a trial basis for up to two weeks. Pay only if you decide to hire them.
Top talent is in high demand.
Start hiring