Data infrastructure
Engineering professionals in Data infrastructure
These engineering leaders build and run data platforms, pipelines, streaming systems and databases. A reader can learn how batch and streaming data platforms are designed and scaled, how teams choose between build and buy, and which platform decisions become expensive to change.
Professionals to explore
01—10Hardik Vaghela
LinkedInExperience: Senior Engineering Manager · Yahoo
Former Senior Engineering Manager at Yahoo (2017–2020). The highlight describes an engineering leader specializing in enterprise-scale data platforms, cloud modernization and AI infrastructure, across more than 15 years in big tech and early-stage ventures. Other listed roles include Independent AI Engineering Research at PropTech (2025–2026), Director Senior Manager - Core Platforms & Data Infrastructure at Yahoo (2021–2024), Principal Software Engineer- Data Engineer at Yahoo (2014–2016) and Senior Software Engineer at Yahoo (2010–2013).
Indrajit Roy
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Databricks
Director of Engineering at Databricks since 2024. The highlight describes leading the Databricks Lakeflow engine team, covering Spark Structured Streaming, the materialization engine and incremental processing for streaming and analytics needs. Other listed roles include Head of Analytical Datawarehouse, Google Data Analytics and Insights at Google (2016–2024) and Principal Researcher at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories and Vertica Database (2010–2016).
Jignesh Shah
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering, GCP BigQuery Dataflow · Google
Director of Engineering, GCP BigQuery Dataflow at Google since 2026. The highlight describes an engineering head and product leader with experience designing and developing data products and containerized and virtual appliances for cloud environments, with specialties in Linux containers, Docker and Kubernetes. Other listed roles include Director, Amazon Aurora MySQL & RDS Open Source at Amazon Web Services (AWS) (2025–2026) and General Manager, Amazon RDS Open Source Engines (ROSE) at Amazon Web Services (AWS) (2023–2025).
Julian Pan
LinkedInExperience: Manager, Data Infrastructure · YouTube
Former Manager, Data Infrastructure at YouTube (2011–2014). The highlight describes over two decades driving scalable data and AI platforms at Netflix, YouTube, Yahoo and IBM, specializing in data engineering, AI analytics and experimentation systems. Also Director of Growth Data Engineering at Netflix since 2020. Other listed roles include Director of Data Engineering at YouTube (2016–2020), Senior Manager, Data Engineering at YouTube (2014–2016) and Technical Lead, Data Platform at Yahoo (2009–2011).
Kamal D.
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering, Core Data · Google
Director of Engineering, Core Data at Google since 2026. The highlight lists roles as Director of Engineering, Core Data at Google and as Director, Data Infrastructure at LinkedIn, both in the Engineering department. Other listed roles include Director, Data Infrastructure at LinkedIn (2020–2026), Engineering Leader at Amazon (2016–2020), Director Of Engineering at Salesforce (2015–2016) and Director of Tech Arch, Big data at American Express (2008–2015).
Karthik Tadanki
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering, Data Pipelines · Oracle
Former Director of Engineering, Data Pipelines at Oracle (2021–2024). The highlight describes 15 years building large-scale platforms across Big Data, cloud infrastructure, real-time processing and distributed systems, including launching new cloud services. Also Director Of Engineering, Managed Kafka, OCI at Oracle since 2024. Other listed roles include Director, Infrastructure Platforms at Oracle (2020–2021), Platform Lead Sr Manager, Infrastructure Platforms at Oracle (2018–2020) and Principal Engineer at Oracle (2015–2018).
Nikunj S.
LinkedInExperience: Director, Global Database Platform Engineering · Avalara
Former Director, Global Database Platform Engineering at Avalara (2020–2025). The highlight describes 26+ years building scalable, automated and highly available data platforms, and leading global database infrastructure across AWS, OCI, Azure and GCP. Other listed roles include Senior Director, Database Reliability Engineering at Avalara (2025–2026), Senior Manager Data Platform Engineering at Tesla (2015–2020), Senior Enterprise DBA Manager at Intuit (2010–2015) and Senior Database Architect and Administrator at Washington Mutual Bank (2005–2010).
Rajasekaran Rangaswamy
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Data Engineering and Infrastructure · TigerConnect
Senior Director, Data Engineering and Infrastructure at TigerConnect since 2021. The highlight describes over 18 years of software development and management across data infrastructure, distributed computing, search optimization, web analytics and business intelligence. Also Director, Data Engineering and Infrastructure at TigerConnect since 2017. Other listed roles include Senior Manager, Data Engineering and Infrastructure at TigerConnect (2015–2017), Principal Data Architect at TigerConnect (2014–2015) and Staff Software Engineer, Data Services at LinkedIn (2012–2014).
Sandeep Pournami
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Engineering, Data Platforms · Apple
Former Director Of Engineering, Data Platforms at Apple (2021–2023). The highlight describes a 15+ year track record of founding, scaling and leading engineering organizations, including the modernized architecture of Apple's global enterprise platform services. Also Director of Engineering at Apple since 2024. Other listed roles include Software Engineer at Apple (2004–2011), Engineering leader, Data and ML platforms at Discord (2023–2024) and Senior Engineering Manager, Lead, Data Platform at Apple (2015–2021).
Vijay Mann
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering - Data Platform · Uber
Former Director of Engineering - Data Platform at Uber (2022–2025). The highlight describes leading Uber's global Batch Data Platform organization and serving as India Site Lead for Storage, Search & Data across online and batch data platforms, with an org of 260+ engineers. Also Senior Director of Engineering Global Head - Batch Data Platform & India Site Lead - SSD at Uber since 2026. Other listed roles include Site Lead and Head of Storage, Search, and Data (SSD) India at Uber (2025–2026) and Senior Manager and Site Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) (2021–2022).
Choose the right perspective
Check whether the person's relevant role is current or past and whether it covered batch pipelines, streaming, warehouses or databases. Ask them for one platform decision they owned and how it held up as data volumes grew.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01When you chose your data pipeline architecture, what made you rule out the other options you considered?
- 02Tell me about a time your infrastructure choice created unexpected operating costs. What would you do differently?
- 03Which technical constraint forced you to redesign how data flows through your system, and what did you learn?
Reaching engineering professionals in Data infrastructure
How can I contact one of these engineering professionals in Data infrastructure?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including Yahoo, Databricks and Google, based on profile data retrieved on September 30, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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