Suraj Shetty
7.5+ years building data platforms end to end, from AWS architecture to AI integration. I own every layer because I built every layer.
Tech stack
Tools I build with.
About me
Built from the ground up.
I'm a data engineering lead and platform owner with over seven years of experience, and I built and run the entire backend of a multi-tenant analytics data platform end to end.
At Firehawk Analytics, I took the platform from the ground up: I architected the AWS infrastructure, designed the data lakehouse, built the pipelines and reporting layer, and have owned every technology, licensing and budget decision since.
Along the way I've led a major AWS modernisation that halved our infrastructure costs, built a metadata-driven ETL engine that cut client onboarding time by 85%, and integrated AI deeply into both the product and how my team works.
My core strengths are SQL, data engineering and cloud architecture, paired with a commercial instinct for balancing what's technically right with what creates real value.
Experience at
Defining strengths
End-to-end ownership
Built and run a whole platform alone and then with a team. I understand every layer because I built every layer.
Builder mindset
Take things from zero, in ambiguity, and make them work and scale.
Commercial judgement
Weigh technology by the value and ROI it creates. Learned this working closely with finance and advisory backgrounds.
AI-native builder
Adopted AI early and use it to change delivery velocity, not as a gimmick.
Calm under complexity
Multi-tenant data, many integrations, migrations with zero client disruption.
By the numbers
Real work, real impact
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Years experience
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Rows processed daily
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API integrations built
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Infrastructure cost cut
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Faster client onboarding
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Clients served across 8 industries
What I do
End to end, every layer.
From cloud infrastructure to AI integration, I own the full stack of a data platform.
Data Platform Architecture
Designing and owning end-to-end data platforms on the cloud, from ingestion to consumption.
Data Engineering & ETL/ELT
Building and operating reliable, scalable pipelines across many heterogeneous sources.
AWS Cloud Architecture
Multi-account environments, cost optimisation, security, infrastructure.
Databricks & dbt Lakehouse
Modern, version-controlled, medallion-layered transformation.
AI / LLM Integration
Embedding LLMs into data products and engineering workflows for real delivery impact.
Database Administration
SQL Server DBA, performance tuning, warehousing, automated maintenance.
Team Leadership
Hiring, mentoring and growing data engineers. Owning roadmap and delivery.
Technical Consulting
Advising client CTOs and technical teams on data architecture and strategy.
Selected projects
Things I've built and shipped.
Each project here is something I designed, built, and own. Click any card for the full story.
Multi-Client Data Platform
Designed and built an end-to-end multi-tenant analytics data platform from scratch, powering BI and data capability for dozens of clients across multiple industries.
AI-Powered Dashboard Framework
A framework that generates client BI dashboards from natural-language prompts, cutting build time from a week to two hours.
Smart ETL Engine
A metadata-driven ingestion engine that automated client onboarding and cut onboarding time by 85%.
Self-Serve Onboarding Platform
A self-serve experience where clients sign up, connect integrations, and get dashboards and mailouts generated automatically.
AWS Modernisation Programme
Led the move to a multi-account AWS architecture, cutting infrastructure costs in half.
Databricks & dbt Lakehouse Migration
Leading the migration of the data platform from a legacy stack to a modern Databricks and dbt lakehouse.
Experience
Where I've built my craft.
Firehawk Analytics
Data Engineer & Platform Lead
Joined at inception. Built the entire backend platform from the ground up and own all technology, licensing and budget decisions.
- Architected the complete backend: data lakehouse, 100+ ETL integrations, reporting layer, AWS infrastructure
- Led AWS modernisation to multi-account Control Tower architecture, cutting costs by 50%
- Designed metadata-driven smart ETL engine that cut client onboarding time by 85%
- Led AI/LLM integration across the product and engineering workflows
- Currently leading Databricks and dbt lakehouse migration across 20+ clients
- Built Firehawk Lite, a self-serve onboarding platform where clients connect integrations and receive auto-generated dashboards, eliminating manual onboarding entirely
- Hired and mentored junior engineers to independent delivery
Accenture
Data Engineer
Client: The Walt Disney Company. Built enterprise ETL solutions and automation tools for large-scale analytics.
- Completed Accenture's Green Field Data Engineering programme, training to enterprise delivery standards before client deployment
- Built ETL solutions in Informatica PowerCenter for Walt Disney's data and analytics
- Developed automation tool that saved 80% of migration time, earned client appreciation award
- Delivered all projects on time with zero defects
- Authored technical and design documentation adopted as team reference
Skills
The technical toolkit.
The full stack of a modern data platform.
AWS Cloud
Lakehouse & ETL
Databases
Languages
AI / LLM
BI & Visualisation
Auth & Identity
Tools
Education
Academic foundation.
Master of Engineering (Professional)
Deakin University
Bachelor of Engineering (IT)
Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering
Contact
Let's talk.
Open to Senior/Lead Data Engineer, Data Architect, and Lead Analytics Engineer roles in Melbourne and remotely.