Maros Zeman

Three contract mandates in one industrial group. Increasing scope. Each designed to end.

A progression from hands-on data delivery to enterprise platform ownership, capability building and executive advisory.

Contract Mandate 3: Scale & hand over | Jul 2024 - Oct 2026

Data Engineering Leader / Interim Head of Data Platform

Owned platform strategy, target-state architecture, engineering standards, governance and the common operating model; led a distributed capability of 30+ architects, engineers and platform specialists.
Implemented AI-assisted development practices in data engineering & data architecture team.
Cut platform run costs by 40% (a six-figure annual saving) while scope grew.
Founded and led the internal Data Engineering Academy — structured upskilling and knowledge transfer that grew a new generation of internal engineers.
Partnered with VP- and director-level stakeholders on investment cases, feasibility and platform roadmaps.
Concludes October 2026 with a planned handover to the internal organisation.

Contract Mandate 2: Build | Mar 2022 - Jun 2024

Data Platform Leader / Lead Data Architect

Designed and established a metadata-driven enterprise data platform for the group's largest business area (~20,000 employees, built largely through acquisition), integrating 270+ enterprise and industrial OT/IIoT sources through batch, CDC and real-time streaming.
Enabled 30+ governed data products for analytics, AI/ML and controlled self-service across previously siloed units.
Example of data product value: $10 million of efficiency-driven business confirmed savings per annum - winner of Hydro Performance Award 2023
Platform development and operations handed over to a newly created dedicated platform team which I handpicked.

Contract Mandate 1: Rescue | Sep 2021 - Mar 2022

Senior Cloud Data Architect

Refactored and productionised a computer-vision solution within three weeks of joining; handed over to a dedicated team after three months of stable operation.
Brought further AI/ML initiatives from proof-of-concept into first governed production.

Contract Mandate: Refactor & Migrate | Dec 2019 - Aug 2021

Lead BI & Data Platform Architect

Led modernisation of a decade-old on-premises estate into a newly refactored governed cloud data platform ahead of a major big-data programme.
Migrated 12 legacy solutions; integrated 70+ source systems; oversaw delivery of 20+ data products.
Led and mentored a cross-functional team of 16; handed operations and further development to the internal team through workshops and documentation.

Jul 2011 - Nov 2019

BI, Data Engineering & Architecture Consultant

Central European clients primarily in Industrial / Manufacturing sector:
End-to-end data, reporting, platform and legacy-modernisation engagements;
progressed from hands-on SQL and BI delivery into architecture, cloud modernisation and technical leadership.
Delivered three analytical data platforms integrating 80+ industrial systems; 14 major data products led or overseen.