Resume

Johan Hostens

Johan Hostens

Freelance Azure Data Engineer

Bringing power and stability to data lakes

Introduction

Data Engineer with 6+ years of experience building stable, powerful and well-governed Azure data solutions — turning complex data from multiple sources into reliable, actionable insights. Certified on Databricks, dbt and Azure.

Collaborative team player with a strong love for scripting and automation.

My professional journey began in the pharmaceutical industry, where I prepared reports to map the operation of the department and make adjustments where needed. The challenge of gathering and analyzing data from multiple sources sparked my interest in data engineering and led me to pursue this career path.

Highlights

Career
  • Freelance Azure Data Engineer — Konverga, Present
  • Data & AI Engineer — Cloubis, 2026 – Present
  • Data Engineer & BI Consultant — Kohera, 2020 – 2026
  • Test & Qualification Engineer — Advipro, 2017 – 2020
Industries
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Food
  • Automotive
  • Government & social partners
Technologies
  • Spark
  • Python
  • SQL
  • Databricks
  • Synapse
  • Fabric
  • GIT
  • Terraform
  • Powershell
  • dbt
  • Power BI
Languages
  • DutchNative
  • EnglishFluent
  • FrenchIntermediate

Education Summary

Data & Analytics - Analytics

2020

UC Leuven-Limburg, Campus Proximus (Heverlee)

Postgraduate — Magna Cum Laude (77,25%)

Industrial Engineer Biochemistry

2017

KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer (Sint-Katelijne-Waver)

Master — Magna Cum Laude (81,50%)

Pharmaceutical & Biological Labo Technology

2015

UC Leuven-Limburg, Campus Gasthuisberg (Leuven)

Bachelor — Magna Cum Laude (82,92%)

Certifications

  • dbt Certified Developer
  • Databricks Data Engineer Professional
  • DP203 Azure Data Engineer Associate
  • DP900 Azure Data Fundamentals
  • DP200 Implementing an Azure Data Solution
  • AZ900 Azure Fundamentals
  • AI900 Azure AI Fundamentals
  • DA100 Power BI Data Analyst Associate
  • PL900 Power Platform Fundamentals
  • 70-767 Implementing a data warehouse
  • 70-762 Developing SQL Databases
  • 70-761 Querying data with Transact-SQL
  • 98-381 Intro to Programming using Python
  • Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate
  • Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer

Professional Experience

Cloubis

2026 - present

A Belgian data consultancy (www.cloubis.be) that helps organizations get more value from their data through assessments, modern data platforms and pragmatic architecture.

Project mode and advisory

Guide clients on how to work with their data effectively, combining hands-on data engineering with an architectural and advisory role focused on the simplest, most optimal solution for each business.

  • Run data assessments end to end — kickoff meeting, business workshops, technical workshops and defining and presenting the roadmap — with a strong focus on the technical workshops and system integration.
  • Optimize and modernize data platforms across Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Azure Data Factory and SQL Server.
  • Act as advisor and architect, helping organizations choose pragmatic, maintainable solutions that fit their team and their data.
  • Leverage AI to speed up business processes, code documentation, code generation and testing.

Microsoft Fabric • Databricks • Azure Data Factory • SQL Server • AI-assisted development

Kohera

2020 - 2026

A Belgian IT company within the Cronos Group that focuses on data solutions, Business Intelligence and database management with Microsoft technology.

Long-term assignments

Azure • Databricks • Data Factory • SQL Server • Synapse Analytics • Fabric • dbt Cloud • DevOps • GIT • Python • PySpark • Postman • PowerShell

Data Engineer - Dataplatform team

2023 - 2026

D’Ieteren – Import and distributor of Volkswagen Group brands in Belgium, covering vehicle sales, parts, accessories and after-sales services, with broader activities across the mobility ecosystem.

Design, implementation and maintenance of enterprise-grade data pipelines, ensuring reliable ingestion, transformation and storage across the organization’s data platform.

  • Delivered new system integrations and optimized and stabilized existing data flows, with a strong focus on data quality, security, access control, performance and timely delivery.
  • Supported the migration to a modern data platform and co-developed the company’s first Microsoft Fabric proof of concept for HR reporting.
  • Collaborated closely with statisticians, data scientists and BI/reporting teams, enabling seamless integration with downstream applications.

Azure • Power BI • Python • Data Factory • SQL Server • SAPHANA

Power BI Consultant & Data Engineer

2021 - 2022

Puratos is a global Belgian family-owned company that develops, produces and distributes innovative ingredients for the bakery, patisserie and chocolate industries, with a strong focus on taste, texture and sustainability.

  • Designed and delivered an international sales dashboard used by managers and sales teams worldwide to monitor individual and global KPIs, serving as a core input for bonus calculations.
  • Integrated data from multiple enterprise systems, including Odoo, EasyRedMine and SuccessFactors.
  • Supported the organization’s cloud transition by provisioning and configuring early Azure resources.

Project mode and support

Managed multiple client projects in parallel, delivering new initiatives, resolving platform issues and performing data migrations alongside long-term assignments.

  • Developed and improved Power BI reports for accounting, CRM and ESG data
  • Built star-schema data warehouse models following Kimball principles
  • Ingested diverse data sources ranging from SQL tables (e.g. telephony reporting) to custom APIs (e.g. timesheet registrations).
  • Played an active role in architectural and technical decisions, including designing a Synapse Analytics architecture for CRM and Business Central reporting that balanced user requirements, budget and timelines.
  • Contributed to migrations from IBM PowerCenter to dbt Cloud and Databricks.
  • Optimized existing workflows and frequently updated or created Azure Data Factory pipelines and SQL Server code.

Azure • Functions • Container Instances • Batch • Logic Apps • Databricks • Data Factory • SQL Server • Synapse Analytics • Fabric • dbt Cloud • DevOps • GIT • Python (Polars, Pandas,..) • PySpark • Postman • PowerShell

Familiarity with SQL Server BI stack (SSIS, SSAS, SSRS) and Apache Airflow

Advipro

2017 - 2020

A specialized consultancy and engineering firm that provides high-quality technical support, advice and project management to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical and high-tech sectors.

Project Engineer

2018 - 2020

Responsible for data analysis and automation, quality and change management, data integrity and creating and testing new measurement methods.

Qualification Engineer - Junior Product Steward

2017 - 2018

Contributed to Equipment Engineering and MS&T teams by developing procedures, executing equipment and shipping validations, managing quality processes: change control, deviations, corrective and preventive actions.

Test & Qualification Engineer

2017

Performed cleanroom environmental monitoring by conducting measurements, processing data and reporting results for microbial surface and air samples and airborne particle counts.

Side Projects

KayakFit

Open-source, Python-based companion application for the KayakFirst Bull kayak ergometer — kayakfit.konverga.be.

Website Sterke Stapjes

Design and build of the Sterke Stapjes website — www.sterkestapjes.be.

Internships

Biocartis Mechelen

2017 | Master thesis

Realtime PCR to the next level. Addressing the need for speed and multiplexing.

PROMOTOR: Dr. David Nauwelaers

Biocartis is a molecular diagnostics company focused on oncology, providing rapid, automated testing solutions that help hospitals make informed cancer treatment decisions via the Idylla™ platform.

KULeuven Toxicology & Pharmacology

2015 | Bachelor thesis

The poison of scorpions as a source of new ligands for voltage-dependent ion channels.

PROMOTOR: Prof. Dr. Jan Tytgat

The Toxicology and Pharmacology lab combines forensic toxicology services with drug discovery research focused on venom-derived peptides from animals such as spiders, scorpions and snakes for therapeutic development.

Honors

KVCV prize for the most deserving student

2017

KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer

The Royal Flemish Chemical Society (KVCV) connects chemists in Flanders, promoting chemistry and life sciences and supporting professionals, students and teachers.

Nominated for the Willy Asselman Award

2017

KU Leuven, Campus De Nayer

The Willy Asselman Award is a prestigious annual prize at Campus De Nayer honoring students for outstanding academic performance and an excellent master’s thesis.

Student Work