Ivan is available for hire

Ivan Nikolic

Verified Expert in Engineering

Data Engineering Expert and Developer

Belgrade, Serbia

Toptal member since October 22, 2024

Expertise

Data Engineering Python SQL Cloud Engineering Google Cloud Development BigQuery ChatGPT Streamlit Development Machine Learning Deep Learning Neural Network C#OpenCV PyQt Scala

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

Availability

Full-time

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.

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