Junior Technical Data Engineer — SQL Developer
Location: Porto (hybrid)
About Apgar
Apgar is a consulting firm specialized in Data Management, Data Governance, and AI, recognized by industry analysts and certified as a Great Place to Work organization. You'll join a global team that helps enterprises turn data into sustainable business value across strategy, implementation, and support. You'll join a collaborative, international team with hands-on mentors and real impact from day one.
The Opportunity
We're hiring a Junior Technical Data Engineer (SQL Developer) to implement Data Management solutions (MDM, Data Catalog/Quality, Data Platforms) and data pipelines. This is a junior role: prior professional experience is preferrable but not mandatory —but solid SQL, willingness to work in agile, and comfort with version control & release management are essential.
What you will do
* Design, write, and optimize SQL (joins, CTEs, window functions, aggregates; basic performance tuning & explain plans).
* Build and maintain data transformations and small integration tasks (ingest, cleanse, enrich, match, validate).
* Use Git/similar (feature branches, pull requests, code reviews) and follow release management (tagging, packaging, promoting through environments with checklists).
* Contribute in agile ceremonies (stand-ups, planning, reviews), keep tickets & documentation tidy, deliver incrementally.
* Support testing (unit/functional checks, data validation) and write clear handover notes/runbooks.
* Collaborate with senior consultants and solution architects; ask for help early, escalate risks, and keep stakeholders informed.
What you bring
* Strong SQL foundation (must). You can read/write complex queries and reason about correctness & performance.
* Practical understanding of source control and release concepts (environments, promotion, rollback).
* Exposure to agile (Scrum/Kanban) via university, internships, or projects.
* English proficiency (written & spoken) for daily collaboration in an international setting.
* Team player, clear communicator, ownership mindset, and attention to detail.
* Curiosity and fast learning —comfortable picking up new tools, frameworks, and vendor platforms.
* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related (or equivalent experience).
Nice to have (not mandatory)
* Basics of data modeling (relational/normalization) and ETL/ELT concepts.
* Exposure to Data Management platforms (MDM, Catalog, Data Quality/Profiling) or cloud data services.
How we'll measure success (first 6–12 months)
* Reliable delivery of sprint tasks with clean, performant SQL and documented changes.
* Proper use of Git & release workflows with low rework at deployment time.
* Positive feedback from peers/clients on communication, collaboration, and ownership .
* Visible progression in one platform area (e.g., MDM configuration, data quality rules).
What we offer
* Mentorship and a clear learning path in Data Management, with exposure to leading platforms and a continuous learning mindset with support for training and certifications.
* International environment in the fastest technological area (Data & AI)
* Hybrid work, with ability to work 6 fully remotely from anywhere.
* Competitive package and a Great Place to Work culture focused on growth.