James Daly is a Junior Data Engineer on the Innovations Product Team at CloudSmiths, a Dynamic Technologies group company. He’s also in his final year of studying for a Bachelor of Engineering in Data Engineering degree at Stellenbosch University, graduating at the end of 2024. With his long-term goal to expand his expertise in data engineering and eventually take on leadership roles that allow him to mentor others and contribute to the development of solutions in the industry, Daly’s journey is just beginning.
“I was first introduced to CloudSmiths through my LinkedIn network when I was looking for sponsorships for our University Data Engineering class merchandise in March this year,” says Daly. Caryn Schalit, Chief People Officer at CloudSmiths, reached out to him and offered to sponsor the class sweaters. He says, “Although we received multiple sponsorship offers, CloudSmiths stood out with their welcoming attitude and clear expression of support.” When the sweaters were ready, Patrick Eriksen, Head of Marketing at CloudSmiths, invited Daly to meet Thomas Fowler, Chief Technology Officer, at CloudSmiths’ Johannesburg offices.
“During our conversation, Thomas offered me a part-time position on his team for the remainder of the year,” explains Daly. “I was given excellent onboarding support by Caryn Schalit and Melissa Houston, Talent Acquisition Manager. The Innovations Product Team also extended a warm welcome, making the transition seamless. As a junior data engineer on the team, I work on the Objective Flow product line, focusing mainly on integrating custom data sources into the application. This includes working with data from platforms that CloudSmiths uses, such as Harvest, Sage and Bamboo.”
While Daly’s studies have equipped him with essential technical skills, his experience at CloudSmiths has been invaluable when it comes to learning how to work collaboratively within a team. Learning core soft skills such as effective communication, managing responsibilities, and meeting deadlines, alongside the exposure to real-world projects, have had a significant impact on his ability to translate his academic knowledge into practical applications.
Working for CloudSmiths has been a life-changing experience for Daly, who was initially unsure of what to expect. He says, “Thomas has been a great leader and mentor. He leads by example and his hands-on approach has been inspirational; I’m very grateful for his guidance.” Daly adds, “The opportunity to work at CloudSmiths has been a turning point in my career development. It has helped me build a stronger foundation in data engineering and I’ve gained valuable insights into industry practices. This experience has solidified my decision to pursue a career in data engineering within the software development landscape and it has substantially refined my time management skills. Balancing a part-time job with my academic responsibilities has taught me how to prioritise tasks and manage my time effectively to meet both work and study commitments.”
It's not just his immediate situation that has changed either. Daly admits, “Before this opportunity, I was uncertain about whether I wanted to pursue a career as a data engineer within the software development field. However, the past few months at CloudSmiths have been eye-opening and have confirmed my desire to continue in this career path. I hope to take on a full-time position at CloudSmiths next year.”
His advice to students in his position is simple. “Look for work experience early in your studies. Even a short stint during recess or a part-time role during the semester can expose you to how the real world operates. It helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace practices and provides excellent insight that will serve you well in your career.”
For Eriksen, the benefits are mutual. He says, “We were so blown away by James’s professionalism and industriousness that we offered him work – and then we were delighted to discover that he’s particularly good at data engineering, too.” CloudSmiths has a culture of developing their tech talent both personally and professionally, even when that talent is still studying. Eriksen says, “If you’re a talented student who’s eager to get some work experience in your last year, reach out to us. After all, it never hurts to ask.”