DBT Analytics Engineer | Brussels, Belgium

Position Summary

ThoughtLabs is actively seeking an experienced, high-caliber, and technical DBT Analytics Engineer with 10–15 years of progressive professional experience in data engineering, analytics engineering, and data warehousing to join our client’s technology engineering team on a long-term contract basis in Brussels, Belgium (hybrid work model requiring 2–3 days onsite per week, exclusive to European locals with valid work permits). In this critical data leadership role, you will be responsible for designing, building, optimizing, and maintaining advanced analytics pipelines, dbt Core data models, and scalable transformation workflows. You will leverage your deep specialist expertise in dbt Core, advanced SQL, PySpark, Apache Spark, Apache Iceberg, and data quality orchestration to deliver uncompromised data integrity, high-performance query execution, and operational excellence. This opportunity offers competitive compensation, executive technical visibility, and exceptional career growth prospects within a premier global technology consulting and digital transformation enterprise.

Detailed Job Description

As a DBT Analytics Engineer supporting ThoughtLabs in Brussels, Belgium, you will take full operational, tactical, and technical ownership of analytics engineering pipelines, data modelling, transformation optimization, and CI/CD data quality frameworks. Your day-to-day responsibilities include designing and developing robust dbt Core data transformation models, authoring advanced SQL queries, optimizing data pipelines utilizing PySpark, Apache Spark, and Apache Iceberg, implementing rigorous data quality testing, reconciliation, and regression testing protocols, managing version control via Git, conducting code reviews, and configuring orchestration tools such as Dagster. Furthermore, you will drive legacy migration workflows, leveraging any advantageous knowledge of SAS ETL and SAS-to-dbt/PySpark migration strategies, while collaborating closely with data scientists, software engineers, and business stakeholders. You will utilize your proactive troubleshooting and analytical problem-solving skills to resolve complex data bottlenecks under strict enterprise delivery schedules. Furthermore, you will manage application requirements by sharing your CV via direct email to Neeharika Sama at neeharika.sama@thoughtlabs.be, ensuring strict compliance with the European local residency, valid work permit, and Brussels hybrid presence requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain scalable data transformation pipelines and dbt Core analytics models.
• Author advanced SQL queries and optimize complex data models for maximum performance and cost efficiency.
• Build and scale distributed data processing workflows utilizing PySpark, Apache Spark, and Apache Iceberg.
• Implement rigorous data quality testing, data reconciliation, automated regression testing, and CI/CD data pipelines.
• Manage code repositories, perform code reviews, and oversee release management using Git and orchestration tools like Dagster.
• Execute legacy data warehouse migrations, specifically translating SAS ETL workflows into modern dbt and PySpark architectures.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve data pipeline failures, latency bottlenecks, and schema discrepancies across environments.
• Collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional data science, engineering, and business intelligence squads.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Analytics, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 to 15 years of progressive professional experience in data engineering, software development, and analytics engineering.
• Strong, demonstrable hands‑on professional expertise and deep practical proficiency with dbt Core and analytics engineering.
• Advanced SQL expertise, data modelling methodologies, and large-scale transformation pipeline optimization skills.
• Practical hands‑on experience working with PySpark, Apache Spark, and Apache Iceberg data lakes.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of data quality testing, reconciliation, regression testing, CI/CD, Git, and Dagster orchestration.
• Exceptional analytical, troubleshooting, debugging, and problem‑solving capabilities under mission‑critical conditions.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills with strong stakeholder collaboration abilities.
• Mandatory European local residency and valid work permit for contracting in Brussels, Belgium (Hybrid).

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Professional certifications such as dbt Certified Developer or AWS/Azure Data Engineering certifications.
• Strong advantageous professional knowledge of legacy SAS ETL architectures and SAS-to-dbt/PySpark migration methodologi