A data engineer shares her nonlinear career journey from Brazil to tech, explaining how her diverse background became an advantage. Discover what data engineering really entails, daily responsibilities, essential tools, and why unconventional paths lead to success in tech.
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Influential Woman · Data Engineering
Julia Velicev
Data Engineer III, SeekWell
Sandy, UT 84094
1Article published
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Her Story
About Julia
Julia Velicev is an accomplished data and technology professional currently serving as a Data Engineer III, bringing approximately 10 years of experience in data engineering, business intelligence, analytics, and data-driven solutions. Her career began after earning bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and International Business from Brigham Young University and working as a Program Manager for the State of Utah. During that time, Julia discovered her passion for data and pursued an opportunity to join a data team despite having limited formal technical experience. Through determination, curiosity, and hands-on learning, she progressed from Analyst and Business Intelligence Developer to Data Engineer and ultimately Data Engineer III.
Throughout her career, Julia has developed extensive expertise in data engineering, business intelligence, data warehousing, analytics, and technology solutions. She has worked in both established organizations and startup environments, gaining experience in analytics, data engineering, and technical problem-solving. Her leadership development includes earning a Women in Leadership Certificate from the University of Utah, which became an important milestone in her professional growth. She also holds MicroStrategy and Google Cloud Platform certifications and has been recognized for her contributions through a Better Together Award nomination. Julia further supports the advancement of women in technology through her involvement with Tech Moms, where she participates as a guest speaker and shares her professional knowledge and experiences.
Beyond her technical career, Julia is passionate about leadership, mentorship, continuous learning, and community involvement. She volunteers and provides financial support to Wasatch Community Gardens, reflecting her commitment to strengthening her community. Julia attributes her success to the supportive individuals who opened doors of opportunity throughout her career, as well as her willingness to step through those doors and embrace new challenges. She encourages others to stay curious, continue developing their skills, and persevere through setbacks, believing that professional growth comes from remaining adaptable, embracing opportunities, and having the confidence to take the next step.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Julia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the support, encouragement, and opportunities provided by the people who have believed in me throughout my journey. I have been fortunate to have individuals who opened doors and created opportunities for growth, but I also recognize the importance of having the courage, determination, and willingness to step through those doors and make the most of every opportunity.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to apply for the promotion and embrace opportunities, even when I may not initially see myself as qualified or eligible. I have learned that growth often comes from stepping outside of my comfort zone, believing in my abilities, and being willing to take a chance on myself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to stay curious, remain committed to continuous learning, and embrace opportunities to grow, especially in the ever-evolving technology landscape. There will inevitably be setbacks and challenges along the way, but perseverance is essential. Believe in yourself, remain adaptable, and keep moving forward, even when the path becomes difficult.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity in my field right now is embracing artificial intelligence and understanding how it can enhance productivity, innovation, and decision-making. I believe those who are willing to learn, adapt, and thoughtfully integrate AI into their work will be well positioned to drive meaningful progress and create new opportunities for the future.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my professional and personal life are continuous learning, embracing challenges, and staying active and engaged. I believe in continually growing, pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, and maintaining a healthy sense of curiosity. Just as importantly, I value staying connected to the people I care about and intentionally nurturing those relationships, as they provide meaning, support, and balance in my life.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Julia
My Path into Data Engineering: From Brazil to Utah to the Tech World
How a career change from multiple industries became my greatest professional advantage in data engineering.
I Did Not Start in Tech: Why a Nonlinear Path Can Be Your Advantage
I did not start in tech. I moved to Utah from Brazil as a teenager, earned my B.A. at BYU, raised two kids, and built a career across several industries before making a pivot into data engineering in 2018. Seven years later, it is still the best professional decision I have made.
I share my story because I want you to know that a nonlinear path is not a disadvantage. It is actually one of the best things you can bring into tech.
So, What Do I Actually Do?
I am a data engineer. My job is to make sure data gets from point A to point B in a clean, reliable, and usable form. I design, build, and maintain what we call data pipelines.
Think of a pipeline like a system that picks up raw, messy data from different sources, cleans it up, and delivers it somewhere useful, like a dashboard or a database that a business team can actually use.
Here is what my core responsibilities look like day to day:
- Building and maintaining data pipelines
- Cleaning and transforming raw data into something meaningful
- Making sure data is accurate and trustworthy
- Optimizing how data is stored and processed
- Supporting business-critical systems that run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
The Tools I Work With
When I started, I had to learn a lot of new tools quickly. The good news is that the concepts behind them matter more than the specific tools themselves. Companies all use slightly different tech stacks, but they generally fall into these four areas:
- Languages: I work most in Python and SQL. These are your best starting points.
- Platforms: Cloud and orchestration tools that run and schedule my pipelines automatically.
- Data Warehouses: Where all the clean data lives once my pipelines do their job.
- Reporting Tools: What analysts and business teams use to turn data into decisions.
Learn the fundamentals, and the tools start to feel a lot less overwhelming.
What My Day Actually Looks Like
I get asked this a lot, so here is an honest breakdown:
- Morning: We do a quick stand-up as a team, and then I dig into any pipeline failures or bugs that came in overnight.
- Midday: I work through my ticket queue and collaborate with data analysts who need help answering business questions with data.
- Ongoing: There is usually some mix of process improvements, writing documentation, reviewing a teammate's code, and running tests.
- On-call weeks: A few times a month, I am the person on call, and I want to be honest about what that actually means because I know it can sound scary.
Think of it like owning a house. Things break all the time, but not everything is an emergency. A broken light bulb or a cabinet door that comes loose? You take care of it during normal hours. But a burst water pipe at 2 a.m.? That one you wake up for.
On-call is the same way. Most issues can wait until morning. The true emergencies are rare, but when they happen, you handle them. The responsibility rotates across the team, so it stays fair and manageable.
It is a job where I get to solve real problems every single day. That part never gets old.
Where Can This Career Take You?
The data field is much bigger than one role, and there are a lot of directions you can grow. I started as an analyst and grew into engineering over time. Here is a look at the landscape:
RoleWhat It Focuses OnData Analyst / BI DeveloperReporting and turning data into insightsData EngineerBuilding the data foundationData ArchitectDesigning the overall data structureData Scientist / ML EngineerBuilding predictive modelsAI EngineerA newer and fast-growing spaceData Product Manager / TPMConnecting technical work to business goals
Your path will look different from mine, and that is completely okay.
My Takeaway for You
I came to this country as a teenager and figured it out as I went. I became a mom, went through hard seasons, changed careers in my thirties, and built something I am genuinely proud of.
Data engineering did not require a perfect background. It required curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning.
If you are a mom thinking about a career in tech, this field has room for you. The work is meaningful, the pay is good, and companies need people who know how to solve hard problems under pressure.
That sounds like a lot of moms I know.
You can do this. I promise.
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