Key Skills

Job Description

Build the Data Engineering practice at GAIA from day one. GAIA Technology Systems is looking for a Founding Data Engineer. You’ll join GAIA at an early stage, with the opportunity to shape our Data Engineering practice from the ground up. We believe great AI systems start with great data foundations. That’s why Data Engineering is not a support function at GAIA - it is one of the core engineering capabilities we are building the company around. You’ll work hands-on with customers to design and build modern data platforms, while helping define our technology choices, engineering standards and how we deliver Data Engineering for our customers. Because we believe the people who help build GAIA should have the opportunity to benefit from what they create, you will also be eligible to participate in GAIA’s employee share programme. Important: GAIA currently cannot provide visa or work-permit sponsorship. You must already have a valid right to work in the Netherlands. About GAIA GAIA Technology Systems is an AI-native software development consultancy based in Amsterdam. Our philosophy is Intelligence with a Purpose: we see AI as a means to create real outcomes for our customers, not as an end goal in itself. We bring Cloud Infrastructure, Software Engineering, Data and AI together to design and build technology end-to-end, from architecture to production. We work with organisations across Retail, Life Sciences and Financial Services, building production-grade technology for complex environments. Founded in 2026, GAIA is part of the Reaktor Ecosystem, giving us access to a broader European technology community. What you’ll do As our Founding Data Engineer, you’ll combine hands-on engineering, architecture and technical consultancy. You will: Design and build scalable cloud-native data platforms and ETL/ELT pipelines. Develop solutions using Python, SQL, Spark and dbt. Deep experience with at least one modern data platform such as Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake and/or BigQuery. Strong experience with at least one major cloud platform such as (Azure, AWS or Google Cloud), ideally Azure. Implement orchestration, automated testing, CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code. Improve data quality, governance, monitoring and observability. Build data foundations for analytics, GenAI and Agentic AI. Work with Software, Cloud and AI Engineers on end-to-end solutions. Lead technical discussions with customers and translate business challenges into pragmatic architectures. This is a hands-on engineering role. You should be comfortable discussing architecture with a CTO or Head of Data and then opening your laptop and building it. Help build GAIA The Founding part of the title matters. Alongside customer delivery, you’ll help shape our: Data Engineering architecture and technology choices. Engineering standards and reusable components. Data & AI propositions. Approach to DataOps, quality and observability. Future Data Engineering team. We don’t expect you to have every answer. We do expect you to have an opinion, explain your reasoning and be open to changing it when someone has a better idea. What we’re looking for Ideally, you bring: 5+ years of professional Data Engineering experience, ideally including ownership of production systems and technical decision-making. Strong Python and SQL skills. Experience building production-grade ETL/ELT pipelines. Experience with a major cloud platform, preferably Microsoft Azure. Experience with modern data platforms such as Databricks, Fabric, Snowflake or BigQuery. Experience with Spark, dbt, Git, CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code. Strong understanding of data architecture, modelling, quality and governance. The ability to explain technical decisions clearly to customers and colleagues. Professional working proficiency in Dutch and English. Experience with Kafka, Kubernetes, event-driven architectures, GenAI/ML data pipelines or technical consulting is a plus. You don’t need to tick every box. We care more about strong engineering fundamentals, curiosity and your ability to learn. What you get A genuine founding role with influence over our Data Engineering practice. Eligibility to participate in GAIA’s employee share programme. Direct collaboration with GAIA’s founders and engineering leadership. End-to-end work across Data, Cloud, Software Engineering and AI. Room to grow as GAIA develops. Access to the broader Reaktor Ecosystem. Interested? We’d much rather hear about something you’ve built than receive a perfectly polished cover letter. Tell us about a data platform, pipeline or technical challenge you’re proud of: what you built, the choices you made and what you learned. Come build GAIA with us.

Core Responsibilities

Design and build cloud-native data platforms and production-grade pipelines, implementing orchestration, testing, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and data quality and observability practices. Lead customer-facing architecture discussions, deliver end-to-end data solutions with other engineering teams, and establish GAIA’s data engineering standards, technology choices, and future practice.

Requirements

The role calls for at least five years of data engineering experience, strong Python and SQL skills, and experience with production ETL/ELT pipelines, a major cloud platform, and a modern data platform. Candidates should also have experience with Spark, dbt, Git, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, data architecture, modelling, quality and governance, and professional working proficiency in Dutch and English.

Benefits

• Employee Share Programme
• Access to the Reaktor Ecosystem