Application Guide
How to Apply for Data- & Platform Engineer
at Vattenfall
🏢 About Vattenfall
Vattenfall is a leading European energy company pioneering the transition to fossil-free living within one generation. Their unique mission-driven approach combines large-scale renewable energy projects with innovative digital solutions, making them an ideal workplace for engineers passionate about sustainability and impactful technology. Working at Vattenfall means contributing directly to Europe's energy transformation while collaborating with diverse international teams.
About This Role
This Data- & Platform Engineer role at Vattenfall involves designing and maintaining data lake solutions that enable data sharing across departments and with external stakeholders, directly supporting the company's sustainability goals. You'll implement cloud, on-premise, and hybrid data solutions while working in DevOps teams with architects, data scientists, and business specialists to translate energy sector needs into technical specifications. Your work will empower self-service reporting and streaming analytics that drive fossil-free energy initiatives.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a DevOps stand-up discussing ongoing data pipeline developments with architects and data scientists, followed by designing Azure-based data lake enhancements to improve data sharing with external renewable energy partners. You'd spend midday collaborating with business stakeholders to refine requirements for streaming analytics of grid operations data, then implement ETL optimizations before reviewing PowerBI reports with sustainability teams to support fossil-free initiative tracking.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Vattenfall Is Looking For
- Has hands-on experience with MS Azure technology stack for data engineering, particularly in building and maintaining data lakes, ETL/ELT pipelines, and APIs
- Demonstrates expertise in implementing database and data warehouse concepts across cloud (Azure), on-premise, and hybrid environments, with practical experience in PowerBI for self-service reporting
- Possesses strong collaboration skills for working in DevOps teams with diverse stakeholders including business specialists, architects, and data scientists in an energy/utility context
- Shows ability to analyze business needs in the energy sector and translate them into IT specifications, with experience in streaming data analytics for operational insights
📝 Tips for Applying to Vattenfall
Highlight specific MS Azure projects where you built data lake solutions, mentioning Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Databricks, or Azure Synapse Analytics explicitly
Demonstrate your understanding of energy sector data challenges by describing how you've handled time-series data, IoT sensor data, or energy consumption analytics in previous roles
Showcase experience with hybrid data environments by detailing projects that integrated on-premise systems with cloud platforms, particularly relevant for utility companies transitioning infrastructure
Emphasize collaboration with non-technical stakeholders by providing examples of how you translated business requirements into data solutions for departments like operations, trading, or sustainability
Include metrics that show how your data engineering work improved reporting efficiency, data accessibility, or decision-making speed, aligning with Vattenfall's focus on value-adding solutions
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your experience with MS Azure in energy or utility contexts, specifically how you've used it for data lakes, ETL/ELT, and enabling self-service analytics", 'Examples of translating business needs into IT specifications in complex organizations, highlighting your ability to bridge technical and business teams', "Demonstrated collaboration in DevOps teams with diverse roles, showing how you've worked with architects, data scientists, and business specialists", "Your understanding of Vattenfall's fossil-free mission and how your data engineering skills can support their sustainability goals through better data sharing and analytics"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Vattenfall's specific sustainability targets and fossil-free roadmap, particularly their digital transformation initiatives mentioned in annual reports
- → The company's current data and platform projects in the Netherlands/Amsterdam region, including any public case studies on their digital solutions
- → Vattenfall's partnerships and external stakeholder ecosystem in the energy sector to understand potential data sharing requirements
- → The energy sector's specific data challenges: time-series data from grids, IoT from renewable assets, market trading data, and customer consumption patterns
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on technical skills without demonstrating ability to translate business needs into solutions - this role requires strong business analysis alongside engineering
- Presenting generic cloud experience without specific MS Azure examples relevant to data lakes, ETL/ELT, and hybrid environments
- Neglecting to show experience with stakeholder collaboration across departments - this role explicitly requires advising various departments beyond the immediate team
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!