Backend Data Platform Engineer [Senior/Expert]

Python or Java | SQL | TB-scale flight data | Aviation AI

At StorkJet, we build software that helps airlines reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by processing high-volume flight and operational data. This is not a pure maintenance role. We are looking for a senior/expert engineer who wants to modernize and evolve production backend/data-processing systems, improve architecture, and work on performance-heavy data workflows used by airline customers.

As a Backend Data Platform Engineer you will work with real aviation data, including second-by-second flight recorder data, and help turn it into reliable products used by airlines, pilots, fuel-efficiency teams and operational experts.

What you will own

• Design, build and modernize backend services and data-processing components in Python and/or Java.

• Work on incremental rewrites and modernization of selected production systems, with a focus on reliability, testability and maintainability.

• Build and optimize batch and real-time data processing pipelines for high-volume aviation datasets.

• Work deeply with relational databases: query optimization, indexing, partitioning, schema design, bulk loading, migrations, data retention and performance monitoring.

• Build secure APIs and integrations with airline/customer systems.

• Improve observability, CI/CD and customer onboarding automation.

• Collaborate with backend engineers, data scientists, aviation experts and product people to design algorithms and workflows that optimize airline operations.

Our stack and technical area

• Python: SQLAlchemy, Pandas, data-processing scripts and services.

• Java: Spring Boot, Apache Camel.

• Databases: MariaDB, SQL performance tuning, indexing, partitioning, query plans, schema design, migrations, replication, large-table operations.

• Data and integration: batch processing, real-time workflows, ETL/ELT, CDC/binlog-based processing, bulk data loading, data validation, data quality checks, idempotent pipelines, orchestration, Data Warehouse and OLAP workloads.

• Data domains we work with: flight and aircraft operational data, geospatial data, OpenStreetMap, weather data including ECMWF, currency and external reference-data feeds.

• Operations and observability: Docker, Linux, Bash, GitLab CI/CD, ELK, Grafana, application performance monitoring, logs/metrics/tracing, production troubleshooting.

• Infrastructure exposure: Ansible, VMware/Proxmox, networking basics, IPSec/VPN-based customer integrations, secure system-to-system connectivity.

What we expect

• 5+ years of commercial backend/software engineering experience.

• Strong production experience in Python or Java.

• Willingness to work across both ecosystems; expertise in both is welcome but not required from day one.

• Strong SQL skills and practical experience with production databases.

• Experience designing, debugging and improving systems running in production.

• Ability to reason about performance, reliability, data quality and security.

• Ownership mindset: you can break down ambiguous modernization work, propose trade-offs and deliver safely.

• Good communication skills in English, B2+.

Nice to have

• Experience with TB-scale relational databases, large tables, analytical workloads, partitioning, indexing and query optimization.

• Experience with high-volume ETL/ELT, batch processing, CDC, replication or binlog-based workflows.

• Experience with Kafka or other message/event-processing systems.

• Experience with Data Warehouse / OLAP concepts, data modelling, aggregation pipelines or reporting-oriented datasets.

• Experience with production observability, performance debugging, profiling, alerting and incident analysis.

• Familiarity with GitLab CI/CD and secure deployment practices.

Financial offer

Senior:

• CoE: 15 200 – 20 200 pln gross

• B2B: 16 950 – 22 500 pln netto + VAT

Expert:

• CoE: 18 900 – 28 200 pln gross

• B2B: 21 100 – 31 400 pln netto + VAT

What do we offer

• A real say in tech decisions and space for your ideas.

• Possibility to join the Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP).

• Training budget, language classes, internal tech talks, referral program.

• Flexible hours and a modern office in the heart of Katowice.

• Fully equipped kitchen (with an oatmeal station – we take breakfasts seriously).

• Private healthcare and/or Multisport card.

• Regular, unconventional company events, friendly atmosphere – we’re not a corporation.

Need More Info? We’re here to answer any questions you have about your future adventure with StorkJet! Contact us 📩 join.us@storkjet.com.