Michal Dziechciarz on data engineering during his work placement at Just Eat Takeway.com

What kind of projects or tasks were you involved in during your placement? 

Michal: 'My internship was a bit different compared to most. I didn’t work on a single defined project, instead, I was integrated into the team as if I were a full-time employee. I joined the Core Data Warehouse team, part of the Data and Analytics department, which manages Just Eat Takeaway.com’s central data warehouse. This warehouse contains a set of databases used by multiple teams like Logistics, Marketing, Finance, and Restaurant Partnerships.’ 

'The primary focus of my internship was supporting the strategic migration from a legacy SQL-based data warehouse to a more modern architecture powered by DBT on Google BigQuery. This transformation aimed to improve the performance of ETL pipelines, allow data to refresh more frequently, and enhance the modularity and maintainability of the system. It also introduced more robust data validation and testing practices.’ 

‘Alongside the migration, I was also involved in the ongoing support and maintenance of the legacy system. That included ensuring data quality and handling urgent issues flagged by stakeholders, such as missing data that could impact reporting for teams like Finance. Both aspects of the role gave me a strong foundation in data engineering and a clear understanding of how complex data infrastructure operates in a real-world setting.'  

What was the most valuable thing you learned during your time there? 

Michal: 'The biggest learning experience was being surrounded by very experienced engineers, most of them had 10 to 15 years of industry experience. At first, it was a challenge to adapt to their high standards and expectations. But it helped me grow immensely.’ 

‘I learned how production environments operate, and how careful you have to be, one mistake can break the entire system. I became much more familiar with the process of testing and validating changes, first locally and then in development environments. It taught me what it really means to deliver production-quality work.' 

How did the placement match your expectations going in? Anything that surprised you? 

Michal: 'One thing that surprised me was just how important effective communication is. I realised that clearly expressing your ideas is crucial, especially in a professional environment. In my role, I regularly communicated with stakeholders from other teams and took part in stand-up meetings twice a day. To improve, I began preparing by writing down everything I planned to say in advance, and I also practised my writing on various topics at the weekends. Over time, this really helped me articulate myself more clearly, and my teammates noticed the difference.’ 

‘Even though I was working in the Netherlands, my entire team spoke English and was made up of internationals. So, being able to communicate clearly in English became even more important.' 

Did the experience influence your ideas about your future career path? 

Michal: 'Yes, it definitely gave me a clearer picture of what being a data engineer actually involves. Before the placement, I thought I knew, but it is very different in practice. I am still a student and keen to explore different roles, but I now have a much better understanding of this particular path.’ 

‘At university, we are introduced to roles like data scientist, data engineer, and analytics translator. This internship helped me see how those roles differ in the real world.' 

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you handle it? 

Michal: 'One of the biggest challenges was joining a team of highly experienced engineers and making the shift from low-risk university projects to working with critical production infrastructure.’  

‘Being in a company of this scale also made me realise the true value of a proper onboarding process. Taking the time to get to know people, build connections, and fully understand the work environment makes a significant difference, and is a real investment in future success.’ 

‘Initially, it was tough to catch up with everything. But over time, through one-on-one calls and asking lots of questions, I was able to get more comfortable and contribute effectively.' 

What’s next for you? 

Michal: ‘I am heading into the fourth year of my study programme and still deciding between undertaking another internship or returning to university for a specialisation project. Regardless of the setting, I am keen to expand my knowledge and focus on the field of Computer Vision. With the strong foundation in Data Engineering I gained at Just Eat Takeaway.com, I believe combining these two areas could become a valuable asset in my future career.’ 

‘I want to thank everyone at Just Eat Takeaway.com who supported me, especially my manager Reshma and all the team members who took the time to have one-on-one conversations with me. I really appreciate the opportunity.' 

You can connect with Michal on LinkedIn.