A day in the life of a Data Engineer

Welcome to our “A day in the life” blog series – a behind-the-scenes look at how different specialists across Pwrteams work, collaborate and solve problems. Each interview focuses on a different role, walking you through the daily routines, challenges and accomplishments of our colleagues.

Today, we meet Martin Marinov, a Data Engineer at the Funding Circle team in Pwrteams Bulgaria. He shares what it takes to bridge product engineering and reporting, why communication skills matter as much as code, and how Pwrteams’ supportive environment lets him focus on impact. Read more about Martin’s workday below:

How did you come into this position? What was your previous background?

I started my career as a financial analyst, but my interest in data led me to a gradual transition. I got involved in everything from data analysis and reporting to developing data pipelines. When I saw the data engineer position at Funding Circle, it felt like the perfect opportunity to blend my financial background with my passion for data. I’ve since moved into an analytics engineering role, which has been a fantastic fit for my professional goals.

How does your typical workday look like?

As I'm based in Bulgaria and my team is in the UK, the time difference gives me about two hours of focused, uninterrupted time before the rest of the team starts their day. I've found this very productive, as it allows me to complete a significant portion of my development work. After that, we all connect to discuss any roadblocks and align on our work. In the afternoons, we usually meet with our stakeholders to understand requirements and plan for future developments. 

What’s your favourite part of the job?

My favourite part is the problem-solving aspect and seeing the direct impact our work has on the business. It’s incredibly rewarding to take a complex business question, translate it into a technical solution, and then deliver a clear, reliable report that empowers our stakeholders. 

And the most challenging?  

The most challenging part of the job is when we need to fix bugs in our data reports. Our team acts as a bridge between the Product Engineering teams that produce the data and the Reporting teams that need it to be accurate. This requires us to be skilled in both technical and business communication to ensure everyone is on the same page.

What new skills have you picked up in this position? 

I've definitely improved my communication skills. Coming from a technical background, I used to find it challenging to explain complex technical issues to business teams. Since joining Funding Circle, this has become a top priority, and I’ve made significant progress in my ability to communicate clearly and effectively with non-technical colleagues.

What makes it so great being part of Funding Circle's team?

The community is what truly makes Funding Circle a great place to work. It’s a very open and welcoming environment where you can easily reach out to people you've never met to learn more about their work. And, of course, the remote work flexibility is a definite perk! 

What do you like the most about being part of the Pwrteams family?  

What I appreciate most about Pwrteams is the strong sense of community and the excellent support the company provides. Even though I am fully integrated into my team at Funding Circle, Pwrteams ensures I have everything I need to succeed professionally. They handle all the logistics, which allows me to focus on my technical work without any distractions. 

Interested in working alongside passionate professionals such as Martin? Check out our current vacancies and be sure to apply.